A Lake County judge has sentenced 29-year-old Austin Hill to life in prison following his conviction for the 2023 murder of Wseni Laguerre. The sentencing, announced by the Office of State Attorney Bill Gladson, follows a jury verdict returned last week finding Hill guilty of premeditated first-degree murder with a firearm.
The case originated on January 30, 2023, when Eustis Police Department officers responded to a shooting call at a residence on Palm Avenue.
Upon arrival, police discovered the 39-year-old victim in a driveway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Laguerre was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
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According to witness testimony provided to investigators, a man identifying himself as “Lil Jake” approached the victim and a witness to ask for a lighter.
After the victim provided the lighter, the man asked if the victim’s name was “Haitian Black.” When Laguerre confirmed the name, the man fired multiple shots and fled the area.
During the subsequent investigation, detectives received a tip naming Hill as a suspect. Evidence gathered by the Eustis Police Department placed Hill at the scene and identified him as the shooter. Forensic technicians also recovered a firearm that matched spent shell casings collected at the crime scene.
Assistant State Attorneys Kenneth Nunnelley and Rachel Jones prosecuted the case before Judge Cary F. Rada. Following the jury’s guilty verdict, the court imposed the mandatory life sentence.
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