Fort Myers man sentenced to 50 years in prison for second-degree murder

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A Fort Myers man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for second-degree murder with a firearm.

Jose Espichan, 27, was found guilty of the 2021 murder in August after a trial in Lee County.

According to the state attorney’s office, Espichan was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) in September 2021 after he killed a father in front of his children at a Lee County gas station.

The incident happened near the intersection of Palm Lane and Orange River Blvd. When deputies arrived on scene, they found the victim, Jesus Milian Cabrera, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Cabrera died at the scene, according to LCSO.

Investigators then uncovered the events that led up to the shooting.

According to the state attorney’s office, Espichan and his girlfriend were at home when she saw Cabrera’s pickup truck driven by his father and a car with Cabrera, his girlfriend and their children inside.

Espichan’s girlfriend had been in a dispute with them over the dog for several weeks before the incident.

Espichan and his girlfriend then got into an SUV and followed the vehicles. After Cabrera stopped near the K circle to help his father with a truck problem, Espichan then yelled at them to move over and shot Cabrera.

Espichan’s sentence will be followed by life probation, the state attorney’s office said.