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

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

Jacksonville’s Ezekiel Archuleta died after being shot at his home on Penman Road North at 12th Avenue on September 21. Officers sent to an ongoing burglary found the victim on the front yards with gunshot wounds. He died in a hospital.

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

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

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

After confirming that Archuleta was one of the Stewards asked to carry out the robbery, police said they had been issued a warrant for accusing her of second-degree felony murder and a request to carry out a robbery. She was arrested Wednesday at 1:16 am in her hometown in St. Johns County.

Ezekiel Archuleta’s mother, Beth Archuleta, said her son kept a text message from Weiner as proof that she asked him to commit a robbery. If it weren’t for Weiner, Archuleta felt her son would still be alive.

“My son was killed out of hatred, anger and jealousy,” said the victim’s mother, Beth Archuleta. That’s why he was murdered. He wasn’t trying to rob that kid. “

Beth Archuleta said her son went to the house only out of curiosity and the homeowner knew they were coming.

“That’s why he climbed onto his roof and waited for him,” said Beth Archuleta.

Police told News4Jax they had no evidence of this.

The grieving mother feels there is more to it and hopes for justice.

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