Office of the State Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

July 20, 2023      

         

State of Florida v. Tarek M. Mneimne                                                                    

DOB: 01/29/1987

Case Number: 2020 300339 CFDB

 

Orange County Man Convicted in Friend’s Murder during Drug Robbery

DAYTONA BEACH – After a three-day trial this evening, a Volusia County jury found defendant Tarek Mneimne guilty as charged of First-Degree Murder. Immediately following the verdict, the defendant was sentenced to life in prison for the crime.

On January 18, 2020, the defendant hung out at a Daytona Beach motel with his longtime friend who was renting a room and selling drugs.

Later that evening, Mneimne, who knew his friend had drugs and cash in the room, drove his co-defendant back to the motel to rob him.

Mneimne’s co-defendant broke into the room through the back window. He got into a struggle with the victim and shot him before taking two duffle bags full of drugs and driving away from the scene with Mneimne. The victim died from his injuries at the scene.

“The defendant betrayed his friend for money and drugs - a tragic and familiar theme.  My thoughts and prayers are with the family of our victim,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said of the case.

The case was investigated by the Daytona Beach Police Department. Assistant State Attorney Heatha Trigones successfully tried the case for the State. The Honorable Karen Foxman presided over the case and pronounced sentence.

The case against Mneimne’s co-defendant is scheduled to go to trial in November.

 

For more information contact: 

Haley Harrison | Multimedia Specialist/PIO | Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit | SAOPIO@SAO7.org