Suspect accused of shooting two men outside Taco Bell; victim who died was caught in ‘line of fire’

A 22-year-old man is facing murder and attempted murder charges in the shooting of two men outside of a Taco Bell in North Lauderdale on Christmas Eve.

Brandon Martin was arrested on Christmas Day and was being held in the Broward County Main Jail without bond.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office identified the victims Wednesday as Diomonte Jean, 25, who is expected to recover, and Renel Sintira, 34, who was pronounced dead at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale after the shooting.

Jean was at the Taco Bell in the 7100 block of West McNab Road shortly before 11 p.m. on Dec. 24, waiting for his ex-girlfriend to drop off the one-month-old son they have together, according to a probable cause affidavit. When his ex-girlfriend arrived at the restaurant, she was with her new boyfriend, Martin.

Jean and the woman were discussing the care of their child in the parking lot when Martin began to interject, the affidavit said. Martin grew angry when Jean told him not to get involved.

Jean told a detective he saw Martin reach for a gun in his waistband while he and Martin were arguing. Jean turned his back toward Martin to walk into the restaurant and heard people screaming before Martin fired, the affidavit said.

Jean was shot in the leg multiple times and ran to hide in the restaurant’s bathroom, leaving a trail of blood inside the restaurant. He had surgery at Broward Health, the affidavit said.

Sintira was shot in the hips. He did not know Martin or Jean and “was in the line of fire,” the affidavit said.

Martin fled after the shooting and was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder the next day. The Sheriff’s Office said Martin admitted to the shootings.