Florida Janitor, 86, Who Kills Boss for Firing Him After 31 Years of Work, Says He Felt 'Disrespected'
Felix Cabrera, an 86-year-old Florida janitor, had fatally shot his boss after he was denied another year working at a sugar mill, where he worked for 31 years. Hiroshi Kimura on Unsplash

An 86-year-old Florida janitor had fatally shot his boss after he was denied another year working at a sugar mill. Suspect Felix Cabrera was being laid off after being on the job for 31 years.

The Florida janitor is now in jail without bail on a first-degree murder charge after the fatal shooting last month at the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative in Belle Glade, Florida, Daily Mail reported.

Cabrera's boss was identified as 67-year-old William Combass from Martin County. He was shot multiple times.

Felix Cabrera was said to have sought to work for an additional year for financial reasons. However, Combass turned down the suspect's request.

The Florida janitor then allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot his boss, authorities said. Felix Cabrera quickly confessed to the killing. In a statement, the cooperative said it was horrified and saddened by the senseless violence.

Authorities earlier said it was simply a case of a disgruntled employee planning to kill his boss. However, Cabrera's lawyers from the Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office said that things are not yet clear. The lawyers also suggested that it could have been self-defense.

Florida Janitor Kills His Boss William Combass

Felix Cabrera left his home around 6:30 a.m. on the day of the shooting. After 10 a.m., Combass told the Florida janitor that he was fired and that he should never return to work.

Cabrera pleaded to work for another year but Combass is said to have told him "no" and to leave the office.

An arrest report issued by prosecutors did not cite a reason why Cabrera was being let go, according to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel report. Some of the lines in the reports are blacked out due to exceptions under state public records law.

Cabrera's lawyer said the Florida janitor felt "disrespected" in how his boss was speaking to him in front of other employees. Felix Cabrera stated his confession in his native Spanish.

The Florida janitor was originally from Cuba and exiled to the U.S. in 1980. He no longer had any living relatives as they outlived them all.

The defense lawyers said that Cabrera's life revolved around his job and the sugar plant, adding that the news of being fired devastated him.

Cabrera's lawyers said there was no sign that he threatened other employees and he also was waiting for police to take him into custody. The gun was found in a black bag that the suspect was holding.

This was the first that Felix Cabrera has been in trouble with the law. A friend of Cabrera, who used to work at the cooperative, said the violence does not make sense at all due to the man's non-aggressive nature.

Juan Gonzales Jr. added that almost everyone in the sugar mill loves the Florida janitor, adding that he was never the type of person to fall in your face, What's New 2day reported.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page was set up to help pay for the education of Combass' youngest child, as well as his son, Will, a senior criminology student planning to earn a master's degree.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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