Two young Florida men will spend the rest of their lives in prison for killing an off-duty firefighter during a robbery for his iPhone, Nike sneakers and wallet, authorities said.
Background
Coral Springs-Parkland firefighter Christopher Randazzo, 39, was gunned down outside a resort in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea on June 11, 2019. The married father of two had been off duty at the time of the killing, according to fire department officials. He was found lying face down in front of the hotel with no shoes, wallet, keys or phone after being shot multiple times. His red Nike sneakers, iPhone, and wallet containing $55 were stolen along with his car keys.
Torrey Holston and Jose Garcia Romero, who went by the nicknames 'Six' and 'Cobra,' respectively, were 19 and 20 years old at the time of the killing. The two men had been surveilling the area before selecting Randazzo as their target, according to court testimony. A witness told detectives that Holston described his weapon as "my military weapon" and discussed robbing and shooting someone while the group was together.
The Investigation
Broward County Sheriff's Office investigators pieced together the events leading to Randazzo's death through witness interviews and physical evidence. Cheyenne Papach, who was present during discussions about the robbery and dating accomplice Marco Rico at the time, provided key testimony about the planning and aftermath of the killing.
"I can't believe I caught a body," Holston boasted after shooting Randazzo, according to Papach's testimony. "He was smiling about it." Papach recalled that both Holston and Garcia Romero appeared very pleased with themselves following the murder and were bragging about what they had done.
Rico pleaded guilty in 2020 to accessory after the fact and conspiracy charges for driving the Nissan Sentra that Holston and Garcia Romero fled in after shooting Randazzo. A witness who knew both defendants told investigators they referred to themselves as "real thugs" who "got guns" and weren't afraid of using them.
The Trial
Holston and Garcia Romero went on trial together in May 2024 for the deadly robbery. Both were charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon and criminal conspiracy. A Palm Beach County jury found both men guilty of all charges in May.
"I think the jury was clear and unanimous on the involvement of both," Circuit Court Judge Built said during Wednesday's sentencing hearing.
Garcia Romero's attorney, Jim Lewis, told WPLG that an appeal was being weighed after trial. "We had always asked to be separate," Lewis said. "Jose Romero was never alleged to carry a gun in this incident. The co-defendant was, so to some extent, we paid the price."
Key Takeaways
- Christopher Randazzo, 39, was an off-duty Coral Springs-Parkland firefighter/paramedic and married father of two
- Torrey Holston and Jose Garcia Romero sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole
- Both convicted of first-degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon and criminal conspiracy
- Defendants allegedly target Randazzo for his red Nike sneakers, iPhone and wallet containing $55
- Accomplice Marco Rico previously pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and conspiracy charges in 2020
What's Next
Garcia Romero's defense team indicated they are considering an appeal of the conviction. The Broward County Sheriff's Office case is considered closed following the sentencing.
"My husband thinks he's dead," a woman who found Randazzo told a 911 dispatcher after discovering his body.