The death of an off-duty Coral Springs firefighter at a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea hotel over the weekend is now being investigated as a homicide, investigators said Monday.
The body of 39-year-old Christopher Randazzo was found early Saturday at the Southern Seas on the Ocean Hotel on El Mar Drive early Saturday after deputies responded to a medical call, Broward Sheriff's Office officials said.
Officials haven't said how Randazzo died, but said they're investigating it as a homicide.
Randazzo had been seen leaving the Aruba Beach Cafe around 1 a.m. Saturday, officials said.
Lawrence Wick, the owner of Aruba Beach Cafe, said Randazzo worked there for more than 18 years before he became a firefighter.
"Everybody here is absolutely stunned. Chris was as nice a person as you'd ever want to meet," Wick said. "He would go out of his way to help other people and was just the life of a very nice situation. He made everyone feel good about themselves."
"We are saddened to hear about the untimely passing of our brother, Firefighter/Paramedic Christopher Randazzo. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris’s family and friends as we grieve his passing," the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department said in a statement.
Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
