DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies are searching for two men who returned to a restaurant armed with a gun and a machete after they had been kicked out of the business for fighting with other customers, authorities said Friday in a news release.
The incident was captured on surveillance video shortly after 3:30 a.m. Dec. 22 outside La Caravane Restaurant at 560 NE 44th St. in Deerfield Beach.
Witnesses told deputies the men in the video may be brothers.
According to deputies, the men returned to the restaurant and threw a chair at a security guard, knocking him in the head. They were kicked out a second time but returned again, this time armed with a gun and a machete.
Surveillance video from the business shows the men walking up to the glass door. One of the men pulls a gun from his waistband and tries to open the door. After being unable to open the door, he then shoots at it before entering the business.
The second man is seen in the video holding onto the machete.
Deputies said there were eight to 10 people inside the restaurant but no one was injured in the shooting.
Shontice McKenzie and Cedrica Mitchell said they heard the shots.
“We remember that night very well," McKenzie said. "The shots were very, very loud.”
They said they saw a woman darting away in fear.
“She was running for her life,” Mitchell said.
“She had a broom in her hand,” McKenzie said.
Shontice McKenzie and Cedrica Mitchell who heard the shots are also #mentalhealth advocates. They share an interesting insight in this piece. If you have information for @browardsheriff detectives call @crimestoppers2 954-493-TIPS Background: https://t.co/bn3XZesOBp @WPLGLocal10 https://t.co/9O3am1eJJm pic.twitter.com/i7dG5GjWyt
— Christina Vazquez (@CBoomerVazquez) January 4, 2020
The security guard who was hit over the head was taken to Broward Health North with non-life-threatening injuries.
“You got to do the right thing," McKenzie said. "People could have been hurt.”
Anyone with information about the men’s identities is asked to call BSO Detective Mirelle Palushaj at 954-321-4547. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477. A reward of up to $3,000 is offered for anonymous tips that lead to an arrest.