Jose Mike Espichan, 27, of Fort Myers, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced today to 50 years in prison, followed by lifetime probation, for Second Degree Murder with
a Firearm. He was found guilty in August, following a Lee County trial.
On September 1, 2021, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a shooting in Fort Myers, near the intersection of Palm Lane and Orange River Blvd. Deputies responded and located a man on the ground, who had been shot multiple times. He died at the scene.
A white Cadillac SUV, involved in the incident, was located by Fort Myers Police Officers on I-75, not far from the crime scene. Officers conducted a traffic stop. Inside the SUV was the defendant, his girlfriend who was driving, and two children. The defendant and his girlfriend had followed the victim’s vehicle. When the victim exited his car at a stop sign, to assist his father who was in another vehicle, the defendant yelled at them to move. He then pulled out a firearm and shot the victim.
The investigation determined the defendant’s girlfriend had an earlier disagreement with the victim, which led to the shooting.
Assistant State Attorney Martin Stark of the Homicide Unit and Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Justham prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen – Communications Director, State Attorney’s Office