Teen Testifies Terrifying Ordeal After Deadly Florida Robbery Attempt

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Two teenage girls took the stand in court on Thursday to recount their harrowing experience during a robbery attempt that ended in the fatal shooting of their friend, 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller. The defendant, Thomas Stein, an 18-year-old from Cape Coral, Florida, is charged with first-degree murder and three counts of attempted robbery in connection with Rincon-Miller’s death, which occurred on March 17, 2024.

The girls, identified as Louann Dejaie, 18, and Emma Wright, 19, were with Rincon-Miller when the incident unfolded. The trio had attended a movie screening of “Bob Marley: One Love” at a local theater and later smoked marijuana before deciding to walk to McDonald’s. As they strolled down the sidewalk, they engaged in lighthearted banter, taking photos and joking around.

Their peaceful evening took a dramatic turn when an SUV slowed to approximately 5 mph, rolled past them, and then made a U-turn, driving straight back toward the group. Wright initially thought it was a prank, given the unusual behavior of the vehicle. However, her assumption quickly turned to terror as three to four masked individuals exited the SUV and began attacking the trio.

Dejaie testified that the attackers, who were Black, demanded all their belongings. “I was scared and I just wanted to say anything to deflect the situation,” she said, adding that she screamed, “We don’t have anything!” Wright described the chaos as happening “quicker than I could process.”

The robbery attempt turned deadly when Rincon-Miller was fatally shot during the encounter. The girls’ testimony provided a chilling account of the events, highlighting the randomness and brutality of the crime. As the trial continues, the community remains transfixed by the case, which has sparked discussions about youth violence and safety in Fort Myers.