A woman has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Haitian-American father Mike Menard, who was found dead inside his vehicle in Fort Lauderdale.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Le Floridien) — A woman has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Mike Menard, the Haitian-American father who was found dead inside his vehicle in Fort Lauderdale last month, marking a significant development in a case that shocked both local residents and members of South Florida’s Haitian community.
According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Candacia Cyneise Walker, 33, was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder in the July 8 killing of the 32-year-old Menard. Broward County jail records show Walker was being held without bond as of Friday.
Menard was discovered fatally shot inside his vehicle in the 1300 block of Northwest 13th Court. Officers responding to the scene found him dead inside the car after multiple gunshots were fired.
Surveillance Video Captured the Deadly Shooting
Investigators previously released details indicating that surveillance cameras in the area recorded the attack.
Video obtained during the investigation captured the sound of multiple gunshots. Moments earlier, a man was seen running toward Menard’s vehicle while carrying a firearm before the shots rang out. Images from the scene also showed the driver’s side window shattered by gunfire, highlighting the violence of the attack.
Despite Walker’s arrest, Fort Lauderdale police have not disclosed how she is connected to the shooting, nor have investigators announced whether additional suspects may be involved. Authorities also have not released a possible motive for the killing.
Attorney information for Walker was not immediately available.
Family Continues Seeking Justice
The arrest comes weeks after Menard’s family publicly pleaded for answers.
In interviews with South Florida television stations following the homicide, Menard’s father, Philippe Menard, revealed that his son was born in Haiti and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of three. He described Mike as a hardworking father who earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida and leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter.
The revelation of Menard’s Haitian roots brought additional attention to the case within South Florida’s Haitian community, where family members and friends have continued calling for justice.
The investigation remains active, and detectives are asking anyone with additional information about the homicide to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers.
