Life

Florida Father Reportedly Shot and Killed After Online Dating Setup

Police say Adam Hilarie, a 27-year-old father, was shot and killed after being set up for robbery by a woman he met on Plenty of Fish.

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Complex Original

A Florida man was found dead in his apartment Friday, reportedly the victim of an online dating setup. 27-year-old Adam Hilarie was shot to death during an apparent attempted robbery at his apartment in Auburndale just one day after going on a date with a woman he met on the dating site Plenty of Fish, WFLA News Channel 8reports.

Police say Hailey Rose Bustos, 18, went on Plenty of Fish "with the intent" of setting Hilarie up for the robbery. "Her comfort with the way this went, didn't seem like it was her first time," Auburndale Deputy Chief Andy Ray told reporters. "If she hasn't done it before, then she has talked to people who have done it."

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Hilarie and Bustos went bowling together Thursday night. After the date, Bustos reportedly texted Hilarie that she would like to see him again. The next evening, she brought 3 men with her to steal "TVs, an Xbox, and an iPhone." The encounter escalated, resulting in one of the suspects fatally shooting Hilarie in the head. "Hilarie was begging for his life, he was not putting up any kind of fight, and was telling them that he had a 5-year-old daughter," an arrest report revealed.

4 suspects, including Bustos, are now facing a variety of charges related to Hilarie's death. ABC Action Newsreports Andre Maurice Warner, 26, Gary Terrell Gray, 31, Joshua Ellington, 26, and Bustos were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with a deadly weapon, and first-degree murder. Bustos and Ellington were also hit with probation violation charges.

A GoFundMe page for Hilarie's family, including his 5-year-old daughter Lajaya, has been set up to help with expenses. "I would never want anyone to be in the shoes I am in right now, or my family, or any of our close friends, anyone," Hilarie's brother, Angel Cruz, told WFLA. "I don't want no one to feel the way we're feeling right now."

The Auburndale Police Department did not immediately respond to Complex's request for comment.

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