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Summary: Christopher Randazzo, a 39-year-old Coral Springs, Florida firefighter and paramedic who also bartended, was fatally shot during a robbery in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fla., on October 19, 2019. Attackers took his phone, sneakers and wallet, then returned and killed him when they couldn’t unlock the device. Nearly seven years later, in May 2026, a jury convicted two men of murder and robbery. This month, nearly seven years after the killing, a Broward County jury convicted Torrey Holston, 26, and Jose Garcia Romero, 27, of murder and robbery.
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LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. — "Two men accused of killing an off-duty Florida firefighter for his Nike sneakers and iPhone boasted about the murder just moments after the heinous act, according to a witness who saw the gunman 'smiling about it,'" according to the New York Post.
Christopher Randazzo, 39, was a dedicated firefighter and paramedic who spent his days saving lives then lost his own in a senseless robbery one night in 2019. He worked for the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department while also picking up shifts as a bartender at a local beachside spot. On October 19, 2019, after finishing his late shift around 1 a.m., he stepped outside and crossed paths with robbers who targeted him.
The robbery began as a quick stickup. The attackers grabbed Randazzo’s iPhone, red Nike sneakers, wallet with just $55 inside, and a few other items, then left him alive. But when they couldn’t unlock the phone without the passcode, they returned minutes later. A witness watched as Holston and Garcia Romero stood over the dazed firefighter on the ground, yelling for the password. When Randazzo couldn’t respond, they shot him in the back of the head. He died at the scene.
This month, nearly seven years after the killing, a Broward County jury convicted Torrey Holston, 26, and Jose Garcia Romero, 27, of murder and robbery. Testimony included claims that the pair had bragged about the act shortly afterward. The verdicts delivered a measure of accountability for Randazzo’s family after a long wait.
The case drew attention across South Florida because it involved a first responder killed off duty. Firefighters often face risks on the job, yet this incident highlighted how vulnerability can follow them into everyday moments. Randazzo’s dual life—rushing into burning buildings by day and serving drinks by night—reflected the resourcefulness many in public service show just to make ends meet.
While Randazzo worked to earn a living, his attackers apparently stole for a living, underscoring the contrast between cultures.
Randazzo had built a reputation as a steady professional who balanced two demanding roles. Colleagues remembered him for his calm under pressure on emergency calls and his easy rapport with customers behind the bar. His death left a void in both the fire service and his tight-knit circle of friends and family.
Investigators pieced together the case with help from the stolen phone itself, along with surveillance footage and witness accounts. Three people faced charges in connection with the crime. A third man, Marco Rico, later pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.
Randazzo leaves behind a legacy of service that colleagues say will not be forgotten. The convictions close one chapter, even as the loss remains permanent for those who knew him best.
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Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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