Trial Updates in the Murder of Off-Duty Firefighter

Two men are facing charges for the murder of a Florida firefighter, allegedly driven by a desire to steal his Nike sneakers and iPhone. Witnesses have claimed that soon after the tragic event, the suspects seemed to boast about their actions.

Torrey Halston, 26, and Jose Garcia Romero, 27, are accused of killing 39-year-old Christopher Randazzo, a firefighter from Coral Springs Parkland. This occurred around 1 a.m. on October 19, 2019, as he was leaving his second job as a bartender at the Aruba Beach Cafe.

During the murder trial, witness Cheyenne Papacchi testified that the two suspects showed no regret and appeared to take pride in what they had done, as reported by local media.

Papacchi had a relationship with Marco Rico, another individual involved who pleaded guilty to accessory charges back in 2020. On the night of the incident, she was with three other men.

She recounted that while she was with her ex-boyfriend on the beach near the bar, Halston and Garcia Romero, aged 19 and 20 then, sneaked away to steal from Randazzo.

Later, when the group convened in Rico’s Nissan Sentra, they allegedly admitted to stealing someone’s sneakers and phone. However, when Halston displayed the stolen iPhone, it was locked, prompting him to insist they return to the scene for the password.

Upon returning, they found Randazzo unconscious on the ground, and Papacchi witnessed Halston and Garcia-Romero demanding the password. She claimed Halston then fired a gun, leading to Randazzo’s death.

Following the shooting, Halston reportedly said, “I think I got him,” expressing disbelief at their actions. Witnesses noted that he was smiling and seemed to celebrate the incident, while Garcia-Romero appeared just as pleased.

Halston referred to the firearm as “my military weapon” and made comments about the robbery in front of others involved.

Investigators discovered Randazzo face down, with his sneakers, iPhone, wallet containing $55, and car keys taken from him. A woman who found Randazzo described him as “passed out” and expressed concern to her husband, suggesting he thought the firefighter was dead.

Both Halston and Garcia-Romero have been charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy. If they are convicted, they could face life imprisonment without parole.

Randazzo had earned his firefighter certification and paramedic license in 2018, just seven months before his tragic death.