Lehigh Acres man under arrest for murder

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla.- Detectives made an arrest in Friday evening’s homicide.

Lazaro Hernandez, 34, is behind bars charged with second degree murder and aggravated battery.

Hernandez is accused of killing Danny Jimenez and shooting another man in the leg during what detectives say was a drug transaction.

According to the investigation, Jimenez and another man were waiting for Hernandez as part of a drug sale that was supposed to take place at a home on 1000 block of Corry St. E.

After the men arrived, the transaction continued in the kitchen area of the home.

At some point, Jimenez went up to the second story of the dwelling leaving the witness with the two men. The victim and witness had left a .45 caliber pistol on the counter as they started to feel more comfortable with the transaction.

After a brief conversation, police say Hernandez retrieved the pistol from the counter and fired several rounds at the witness stating “this is so you don’t come after me.”

Hernandez struck the witness in the leg before fleeing upstairs in an apparent attempt to attack Jimenez. Jimenez heard the gunfire and retrieved his own gun, firing several rounds down the stairwell.

According to authoriites, as Jimenez reached the bottom of the stairwell, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds that proved to be fatal. During the commotion, the witness who had been shot in the leg was able to escape the dwelling and find help.

The witness positively identified Hernandez as the shooter. The investigation also confirmed that Jimenez was pressing criminal charges against the brother-in-law of Hernandez for a previous incident and that was a motive for Hernandez shooting Jimenez dead.