On Sunday, March 17, at around 9:30 p.m., a 15-year-old girl was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in Cape Coral, Florida while walking with two friends to McDonald’s after leaving the Coralwood 10 movie theater.
The incident began when an unidentified vehicle approached the girls, using its headlights to disorient them before the assailant attempted to rob them. During the confrontation, Kayla Rincon-Miller was struck in the chest by gunfire. While still conscious, she told the police she didn’t know the shooter. Her companions, both minors, said they did not recognize the shooter either.
Despite the immediate response from first responders who performed CPR and applied emergency first aid, Rincon-Miller was pronounced dead at the hospital from her injuries.
In a press conference, Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore stated that, “It should strike a nerve that a young, vibrant 15-year-old girl was shot dead in the street.” Sizemore’s call to action underscored the urgency of the ongoing investigation and the critical need for community involvement in providing information.
On Wednesday, March 20, authorities arrested 16-year-old Thomas Roy Stein of North Fort Myers. Stein is currently facing charges of murder while engaged in a robbery, suggesting a planned criminal act rather than a spontaneous act of violence. Further details revealed that a silver Nissan Pathfinder, rented by Stein’s mother, was used during the crime, hinting at the involvement of additional suspects.
According to the online incarceration records from the sheriff’s office, the accused was admitted into the Lee County Jail at 1:09 a.m. on Wednesday and was discharged less than two hours afterward.
Stein is scheduled for a juvenile court hearing on April 8 at 9:00 a.m. His bail quantum has yet to be determined. It remains uncertain whether he has secured a lawyer’s services or submitted a plea.
The Cape Coral Police Department is pursuing leads to identify and arrest all individuals connected to the crime. This commitment was echoed by Chief Sizemore, who emphasized the department’s determination to bring justice to Rincon-Miller and her family. The police have offered a $3000 cash reward for information leading to further arrests of the other individuals involved in the incident.
“Our detectives know there are others involved in this homicide, and there is still more work to be done,” police said.
The incident has deeply affected the Rincon-Miller family, who are mourning a beloved daughter known for her “beautiful smile and beautiful soul.”
The Cape Coral Police continue to appeal for public assistance, urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.