Lee County deputies have arrested 42-year-old Gedeonson Hyacinthe, accusing him of fatally shooting a man in the Pine Manor neighborhood last year, then livestreaming the bloody aftermath on Facebook Live. Hyacinthe now faces a second-degree murder charge, multiple firearm-related aggravated assault counts, and drug-possession charges. He is being held without bond ahead of an August court date.
Deputies say they found him over the victim
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the Pine Manor community on April 14, 2025, and arrived to find Hyacinthe standing over the victim in the roadway. Hyacinthe reportedly told deputies he had been in a “tussle” with the man and that the victim had been shot. Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit later took over the case after determining the confrontation had turned deadly.
Facebook Live stream from the crime scene
Law&Crime reports that Hyacinthe used his phone to broadcast from the roadway, describing what he said led up to the shooting while panning his camera over the active crime scene. Authorities say he was detained and questioned that day, but was later not in custody as detectives continued their investigation and sought approval for formal charges.
Fugitive Warrants Unit makes the arrest
Members of the Fugitive Warrants Unit took Hyacinthe into custody this week after the State Attorney's Office approved a warrant charging him with second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, according to the Tampa Free Press. He is being held without bond at the Lee County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on August 17, the outlet reports.
What second-degree murder means in Florida
Under Florida law, second-degree murder is a first-degree felony, as outlined in Florida Statutes §782.04, and it can carry a sentence of up to life in prison. Prosecutors are expected to consider the aggravated assault and drug charges alongside the homicide count as the case moves toward pretrial hearings.
When crimes play out live on social media
High-profile incidents that streamed in real time have repeatedly complicated criminal investigations and public reaction. From Diamond Reynolds' 2016 Facebook Live broadcast after the shooting of Philando Castile to the gunman who livestreamed the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, police and tech companies have had to walk a tightrope between preserving crucial evidence and removing graphic content as quickly as possible. Reporting by KPBS and The Guardian highlights how live video can be a gold mine for investigators, while also creating new headaches for content moderators and lawmakers.
“Thanks to the outstanding work of our State Attorney’s Office, Major Crimes Unit detectives, and road patrol deputies, this guy is behind bars where he belongs,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement from the sheriff's office. Lee County Sheriff's Office officials say detectives plan to lay out their evidence at the August hearing as the case continues through the courts.
