Police in Florida have arrested four suspects in connection to a robbery and killing of a young father who was shot dead a day after he went out with an 18-year-old woman he had met online.

Adam Hilarie, 27, was discovered dead inside his Auburndale apartment at around 6.45pm on Friday.

According to investigators, Hilarie had connected with Hailey Bustos on a dating site called Plenty Of Fish and took her out Thursday night.

Honey trap: Adam Hilarie, 27, pictured left with his daughter, was shot dead a day after taking 18-year-old Hailey Bustos (right) out on a date

Online connection: Hilarie reportedly met Bustos on the dating site PlentyOfFish

After the date, Hilarie dropped the young woman off and returned home. Police say the teen then met up with three other men and hatched a plot to rob Hilarie.

The foursome arrived at the victim’s apartment Friday evening and carried out the robbery, which ended with the 27-year-old getting shot, police said.

The suspects, identified as Andre Warner and Joshua Ellington, both 26, and 31-year-old Gary Gray, allegedly stole valuables from Hilarie’s home, including jewelry and electronics.

The three men and Ms Bustos were later arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery with a firearm and first-degree murder.

Bustos, Ellington and Gray were also charged with violation of probation.

According to an arrest report cited by the Orlando Sentinel, during the robbery Hilarie 'was begging for his life' and made no attempt to resist his assailants. He also told them he had a child in an apparent bid to convince them to spare his life.

Accomplices: Bustos' suspected co-conspirators in the robbery and killing of Adam Hilarie have been identified as Joshua Ellington (left), Andre Warner (center) and Gary Gray (right)

More legal trouble: Ms Bustos was picked up by police in connection to an unrelated burglary

Daddy's girl: Hilarie is survived by his 5-year-old daughter, Lajaya (seen right), whom he called his 'princess'

The young woman was reportedly picked up by Winter Heaven police in connection to a separate burglary, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Hilarie leaves behind his 5-year-old daughter, Lajaya, whom he had referred to in Facebook posts as his 'princess.'

Friends and family paid tribute to the single dad during an emotional candlelight vigil that was held Saturday outside his home.

‘I miss my daddy because he's with Jesus,' Hilarie’s heartbroken daughter told ABC Action News.

The victim's brother, Angel Cruz, said that Adam brought out the good in everyone.

A friend has launched a GoFundMe page to help with Hilarie’s funeral expenses.

On Monday, Bustos' mother, Christina, clashed with a friend of Hilarie’s on Facebook after posting a status update in which she asked people to pray for her family.

‘Your daughter is just a little s*** that's going to rot in prison for setting Adam up to get robbed and murdered,’ the friend wrote in the comments section. ‘She may have not pulled the trigger but if it wasn't for her none of this woulda [sic] happen. Even if she gets out the streets will get justice so it's better for her to stay in jail , if you want her alive.’

War of words: Hailey Bustos' mother clashed with a friend of Hilarie's on Facebook after posting this status update

Friend's fury: Hilarie's friend called Hailey Bustos (pictured left and right) 'a s***' and accused her of setting up the 27-year-old single dad

Christina Bustos replied by telling the friend to leave her alone and ‘let the f***ing courts do there [sic] job.’ She added that she never claimed her daughter did not deserve to be punished, but noted that she, too, lost a child.

To which Hilarie’s furious friend said that unlike Ms Bustos, who can go visit Hailey in prison, Adam’s loved ones, including his daughter, will never get to see him again.

‘Adam was a good man. So there is no sympathy for you or your family,’ the friend concluded.