A Naples man charged with murder after a dispute at a clothing store turned deadly in a nearby parking lot last weekend will be held without bond, a judge ruled this week.
Collier Circuit Judge Joseph Foster on Tuesday ordered that 25-year-old Widnes Moricette remain in custody without bond after Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Mason filed a motion seeking Moricette’s pretrial detention.
Moricette is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Merest Exilhomme Jr., 26, outside the entrance to the Burlington store in the 12700 block of Tamiami Trail East.
When Collier County sheriff’s deputies arrived around 10 a.m. Sunday, Exilhomme was lying next to a blue Kia Sorento SUV.
Sheriff’s deputies reported seeing a pool of blood caused by gunshot wounds as they approached Exilhomme’s body.
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When authorities examined the store’s security footage, they reported seeing Exilhomme leaving the establishment with his girlfriend, while Moricette did the same with his girlfriend.
Authorities say Exilhomme and Moricette walked toward each other and met near the store’s exit. The report states that “they each assumed a typical fighting stance” and punched each other, but both missed.
At that point, sheriff’s deputies said they saw Moricette walking a few feet to his car while Exilhome stood still.
As Moricette walked toward Exilhomme again, authorities said they saw him extend his right arm at head height and point what appeared to be a firearm at Exilhomme. Two shots hit Exilhomme.
A GoFundMe created by Exilhomme’s sister, Weslande Jean Baptiste, said Exilhomme left behind four children, ages 8, 7, 6 and 2, and described him as a “family man” as well as a “super dad.”
Exilhomme was the sole financial provider for his family, according to the fundraiser.
“Losing a loved one is always difficult, but dealing with a sudden loss adds another element to the grieving process, often a lack of closure,” Baptiste wrote.
As of Wednesday morning, the fundraiser had raised more than $2,800 toward its $10,000 goal.
One of Exilhomme’s sisters, Sagine Exilhomme, answered a call from the Naples Daily News and indicated the family would be in touch when they are ready to make a statement.
Moricette is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on December 2.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Contact him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples man held without bond in shooting death of ‘super dad’
