Joseph Fernando Medina Herrera, a 21-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on September 9, 2015, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The incident occurred during a drug deal that went awry. According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, Alexander Glover, a 19-year-old from Hollywood, along with two underage teens, arranged to meet Joseph Medina-Herrera to purchase marijuana.
The meeting was set up through Facebook, and the trio arrived at Medina-Herrera's home near NE 44th Court and NE 3rd Avenue just after 10 p.m. Medina-Herrera got into the back seat of their car to complete the transaction. However, during the deal, a physical altercation broke out between Medina-Herrera and one of the teens, who then pulled out a gun and shot him. The bullet struck Medina-Herrera in the back, exited through his chest, and also hit Glover in the leg. Medina-Herrera managed to stagger out of the car but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Following the shooting, Glover and the teens fled the scene, returning to Hollywood where they divided the stolen drugs. Glover sought medical treatment for his gunshot wound at Memorial Hospital West, where he falsely claimed to have accidentally shot himself while smoking cannabis. Detectives investigating Medina-Herrera's death discovered incriminating messages on his phone and Facebook account from one of the teens involved in the days leading up to the murder. The day after the incident, the teen changed her cell phone number and deactivated her Facebook account. The gun used in the shooting was later found in the other teen's backpack.
The investigation led to the arrest of Alexander Glover and the two teens. Glover and one of the teens were charged with murder, not premeditated, during the commission of another felony. The teen who fired the fatal shot faced a charge of second-degree murder. The case highlighted the role of social media in facilitating the drug deal and ultimately aiding law enforcement in identifying and apprehending the suspects. The tragic death of Joseph Fernando Medina Herrera underscores the dangers associated with illegal drug transactions and the devastating impact they can have on individuals and communities.
