Life Sentence For Man Who Fired At West Palm Beach Taco Bell Staff

In a dramatic turn of events at a Palm Beach County court, Chevarus Jywaun Stewart was handed a life sentence this Monday for his brazen act of opening fire at a Taco Bell in West Palm Beach. The incident, which took place on February 21, 2022, left two Taco Bell employees injured and has resulted in Stewart facing multiple life sentences.

Court records reveal that Stewart was sentenced to life imprisonment on counts one through six, which encompassed attempted murder and armed burglary charges. Additionally, he was sentenced to almost 31 and a half years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Stewart has already served 1,582 days in jail, which will be credited toward his sentence. The court also mandated that Stewart have no contact with the victims or their families.

The shocking incident unfolded when Stewart rode his bicycle to the Taco Bell on 45th Street near Military Trail. Once inside, he entered an employees-only area and began firing at the staff. According to prosecutors, Stewart aimed at one employee and inadvertently hit two others. The entire episode lasted less than a minute before Stewart fled the scene on his bicycle.

“His actions have left a devastating impact on the victims and have disrupted the community,” prosecutors argued during the trial.

Stewart's defense claimed he went to the Taco Bell to address a personal dispute with an employee named Perez, alleging that Perez had threatened him with a weapon. However, this account was not supported by witnesses or surveillance footage, leading to a jury conviction on multiple counts, including attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and several others.

The prosecution emphasized Stewart's extensive criminal history in their plea for a life sentence. The State Attorney’s Office pointed out that Stewart had a record of at least 42 past offenses, with 10 being felony convictions. These included crimes such as domestic and non-domestic battery, resisting arrest, trespassing, and public firearm discharge. The state highlighted the long-term injuries suffered by the victims and the fear instilled in others as reasons for the severe sentencing.