In the spring of 2026, the community of Arcadia, Florida, was shaken by the tragic death of 38-year-old Tanika Summers. A beloved mother and dedicated massage therapist, Summers was on the cusp of a new beginning, just days away from moving into a Habitat for Humanity home she had worked tirelessly to secure for herself and her daughter. Her life, full of promise and hope for the future, was violently cut short on April 17th in a devastating act of domestic violence.
The horrifying
events unfolded at the Jacaranda Trail Apartments when Summers' daughter came home to find her mother being held at knifepoint by 45-year-old Eric Devon Robinson. In a desperate attempt to protect her mother, the daughter retrieved a gun, but Robinson managed to disarm her. Witnesses reported seeing Summers walking backward with her hands up, pleading with Robinson before he used the weapon to shoot and kill her. In the midst of this chaos, a second tragedy occurred. A 77-year-old neighbor, Barbara Bates, was also shot and killed by Robinson as she was on the phone with 911, reporting the initial attack.
Police arrested Eric Robinson, who was found near the apartment complex, in connection with the double homicide. He was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder along with eight other charges and was held without bond. It was revealed that Robinson was the father of Tanika Summers' daughter and that Summers had previously sought and been granted a restraining order against him for domestic violence.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Arcadia community rallied together to mourn the loss of both women. A candlelight vigil was held for Tanika Summers at the very home she was so excited to move into, a testament to the dreams that were stolen from her. Friends, family, and clients remembered her as a positive, hardworking, and kind person who lit up a room and was deeply devoted to her daughter. A GoFundMe campaign was established to support her 20-year-old daughter, Eriauna Robinson, as she faced a future without her mother. Habitat for Humanity also announced they would provide her daughter with the opportunity to fulfill her mother's dream of homeownership.
