A Chilean tourist, Piero Estefano But-Castillo, 25, is accused of fatally assaulting a man with a fire extinguisher at a motel in Kissimmee, Florida, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred when But-Castillo was being evicted from the Quality Inn, and the victim, Robert Krusinowski, 55, was attempting to defuse the situation.
But-Castillo had recently arrived in the United States on a 90-day tourist visa from Chile on January 1. The situation escalated when But-Castillo was informed of his eviction from the motel. Krusinowski, who was unarmed, was trying to pacify the agitated tourist.
Sheriff Marcus Lopez, in a press conference, described the victim’s efforts to calm down But-Castillo. He stated that Krusinowski was unarmed and was merely trying to de-escalate the situation.
When the sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, they found But-Castillo assaulting the already severely injured Krusinowski. Known as a long-term resident of the motel, Krusinowski often assisted motel staff with maintenance tasks. He suffered severe head trauma from the attack and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheriff Lopez, in his press conference, assured that such brutal attacks would not go unpunished. But-Castillo is currently being held without bond. He faces several charges, including premeditated murder, resisting an officer with violence, battery, and criminal mischief.