18-year-old woman charged in September with murder in Jacksonville Beach home

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. An 18-year-old woman was arrested early Wednesday and charged with the murder of the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man during an armed burglary in Jacksonville Beach in September.

Ezekiel Archuleta, of Jacksonville, died after being shot on September 21 at his home in Penman Road North in 12th Avenue. Officers sent after a burglary found the victim in the forecourts with gunshot wounds. He died in a hospital.

After the shooting, police charged the 22-year-old resident of the home, Roman Steward Jr., with armed possession of marijuana. He was not charged with the shooting.

Jacksonville Beach police said Steward told investigators that his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend, Samantha Allison Weiner, had asked several people to rob him in retaliation for a recent break-up. Police said they heard Weiner provided Archuleta with Steward’s address and specific information to complete the robbery, including who lived in the house, suggested access points and what items should be taken.

“At one point after they arrived at the residence, the homeowner felt threatened and shot him dead,” Jacksonville Beach Cmdr. Mark Evans.

After police confirmed that Archuleta had been asked under the Steward to commit the robbery, police said they had received a warrant for the arrest because she had charged her with second-degree murder and invitation to commit robbery. She was in her home in St. Louis on Wednesday at 1:16 p.m. Johns County arrested.

Ezekiel Archuleta’s mother, Beth Archuleta, said her son had saved an SMS message from Weiner as proof that she had asked him to commit a robbery. If it had not been for Weiner, Archuleta would feel that her son would still be alive.

“My son was killed out of hatred, anger and jealousy,” said Beth Archuleta, the victim’s mother. “That’s why he was killed. He did not try to rob that child. ”

Beth Archuleta said her son had just gone home out of curiosity and that the homeowner knew they were going to come.

“So he climbs on his roof and waits for him,” Beth Archuleta said.

Police told News4Jax that they had no evidence of that.

The sad mother feels that there is more to the story and her hope for justice.

“To try to say that my son tried to break is wrong,” she said. “There was no evidence of a weapon. There was no glove. There was no mask. My son was in a white, brand new hoodie. ‘