A jury has found a Florida man guilty in a violent shooting that injured two employees at a West Palm Beach Taco Bell—the same restaurant that made headlines just weeks ago after an argument over a fountain drink allegedly escalated into gunfire.
The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office has announced that Chevarus Stewart was convicted on May 28 on charges including attempted first-degree murder with a firearm, attempted second-degree murder, and armed burglary. Prosecutors said Stewart also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22.
The case stems from a February 21, 2022, shooting at the Taco Bell located on 45th Street near Military Trail in West Palm Beach. Authorities said Stewart entered the restaurant, went behind the counter, and opened fire on an employee who was reportedly involved in a relationship with Stewart’s former girlfriend.
Investigators said five workers were placed in danger during the attack, and two employees were struck by gunfire while customers were still being served inside the restaurant.
The same Taco Bell was back in the news in April after another shooting erupted inside the restaurant. In that incident, police arrested 20-year-old D'Mari Jy'Quan Patterson, an employee accused of firing at three female customers during an argument that allegedly began when one of the women filled a water cup with soda from the fountain machine.
According to investigators, the April confrontation escalated from a verbal dispute into gunfire. Authorities allege Patterson fired multiple shots, injuring two women, before attempting to chase a third customer from the restaurant.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as diners ducked for cover or ran for the exits. Patterson was later charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm.
While the two cases are unrelated, both unfolded inside the same 45th Street Taco Bell, a location that now finds itself linked to two high-profile shootings separated by four years.
