Florida man shot and killed after trying to rob another man with fake gun made of screwdriver and piece of wood, police say

A man was shot and killed after trying to rob another man using a fake gun made out of a screwdriver duct-taped to a piece of wood, according to Florida police.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told reporters in a media briefing that the lethal incident resulted from a pre-planned robbery gone awry.

Christian MacDonald arranged to meet with Robert Rafael Cruceta Pimentel at the Tropicana Resort Motel in Davenport on Tuesday just before midnight in order to purchase marijuana from him, according to detectives.

Unbeknowst to MacDonald, Cruceta Pimentel had allegedly plotted with a third man, Harold Sepulveda-Cruz, to rob him with the fake gun.

When Cruceta Pimentel got into the car with MacDonald, Sepulveda-Cruz jumped into the back of the car, pointed the fake gun at the back of MacDonald's head, and began beating him with it. He demanded that MacDonald hand over the money and drugs while the man pleaded with Cruz to not shoot.

MacDonald then pulled out a very real 9mm handgun and shot behind him 10 times, striking Sepulveda-Cruz and killing him.

Police said Cruceta Pimentel grabbed the drugs and the money and tossed them over the fence of the hotel before MacDonald called the police to report the burglary and shooting.

Cruceta Pimentel was charged with second-degree murder and nine additional charges.

Judd noted the irony that a man lost his life over such a small amount of money.

"If our robber, Harold Cruz, as the information came to us, was high on drugs that night and needing to hit a lick for a quick fix, if his buddy had just loaned him $100, he'd still be alive today," said the sheriff.

"So while Robert had $900 in his pocket, he sat there while Harold got shot over a $140 and an eighth of an ounce of marijuana," he added.

MacDonald has not been charged with a crime, but the investigation is ongoing.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

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