Wseni Laguerre, a 39-year-old man from Eustis, Florida, was fatally shot on January 30, 2023, in what police described as a "targeted act." The incident occurred at a home on 202 Palm Avenue, where Laguerre was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
The shooting marked the first homicide in Eustis in four years.
An investigation led by the Eustis Police Department resulted in the arrest of Austin Hill, a 27-year-old man from Mount Dora, Florida. Hill was booked into the Lake County jail on July 26, 2023, and is facing a charge of first-degree premeditated murder in Laguerre's death.
Austin Hill has a significant criminal history, with 17 prior felony convictions. He had been released from prison in November 2022 after serving a 10-year sentence for armed robbery. At the time of his arrest for Laguerre's murder, Hill was already in custody for unrelated charges, including domestic battery with a gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and improper exhibition of a firearm.
According to Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri, Hill and Laguerre did not know each other, but Hill knew who he was targeting. Capri described the incident as a "cold, calculated murder by a coward" who shot an unarmed person in front of his residence where his family was inside. During the shooting, Laguerre was shot three times at close range before Hill fled the scene.
Laguerre was remembered by his family as a beloved and peaceful individual who was the "glue" that kept his family together. He was described as someone who would de-escalate problems and was loved by everyone, especially children. The family emphasized that Laguerre was not a violent person and was shot in his mother's house, not in the streets.
The case remains under investigation, but the arrest of Austin Hill marks a significant step towards closure for Laguerre's family. Chief Capri acknowledged that while the arrest is a positive development, the family still has a long way to go in the healing process.
