EUSTIS, Florida—An arrest has been made in the January murder of a Eustis man, Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri announced Thursday morning.
Austin Lashay Hill, 26, of Tangerine was taken into custody at the Lake County/Orange County line Tuesday on a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, improper exhibition of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Those crimes were also committed in Eustis.
On Wednesday, several more charges were added to Hill, including premeditated murder, discharging a firearm in public and an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Flanked by family and loved ones of the victim, Capri said Hill murdered Wseni “Haitian Blac” Laguerre, 39, at Laguerre’s Eustis home on Palm Avenue Jan. 30. EPD responded to the shooting and found Laguerre with multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses told police an individual, now identified as Hill, had some sort of confrontation with Laguerre, shot him multiple times and fled the scene. Laguerre was transported to AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares where he died a brief time later, Capri told Inside Lake earlier this year.
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Choking back tears, Laguerre’s cousin spoke briefly to reporters about her cousin who was described as a family man who took his mother to all her doctor’s appointments. She said he will be remembered for his smile, his love and his aura. He was also an identical twin.
“He was the glue” she said, “He kept us together.”
Pam Simmons, a resident of Eustis came to the press conference because she cares about her community and is tired of all the gun violence.
“I just want us to stop killing each other,” she told Inside Lake.
Eustis Mayor Michael Holland also spoke and had a warning for anyone who commits a crime in Eustis, “We will catch you,” he said.
Police had not released a motive in the shooting and Capri said even with this arrest, the investigation is ongoing.
