Man fatally shot after argument over jukebox song selection in restaurant

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Gray News) – A man accused of fatally shooting another man at a Florida restaurant after an argument over a jukebox song has been charged with murder.

According to police, an argument between two men, 46-year-old Cesar Esquivel Estrada and 54-year-old Socorro Camacho, escalated into gun violence. The incident occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. last Monday at Antojitos Mexicanos, a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, according to WTVJ.

Mauro Bonilla, who frequents the restaurant, said his friends who were there at the time told him it started when Estrada started playing a song on the jukebox, WFOR reports. Socorro Comacho then walked up to him and allegedly said, “You’re not a real Mexican if you play this music.”

As the argument escalated, Estrada reportedly pulled out a gun and began shooting. According to WPLG, Socorro Camacho, who was shot multiple times, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It’s just sad because this is a good neighborhood and something like this never happens,” Bonilla told WFOR. “I’m very shocked that someone was shot and killed there.”

After the shooting, Estrada ran away, the restaurant manager told WFOR. An arrest warrant was issued against him last Monday and he was taken into custody the next day.

The victim’s brother, Julian Camacho, told WTVJ that his family knew something was wrong when they couldn’t reach him. He says he is devastated by his brother’s death because he was the only family he had in Florida.

“All I know is that they fought over a song and that was it,” he said in Spanish.

Police did not disclose whether the victim and suspect knew each other.

Restaurant staff told WPLG they were relieved an arrest had been made and described Socorro Comacho as a loyal customer and a person with a good heart.

Estrada is charged with, among other things, first-degree murder. He is being held without bail.

Copyright 2024 Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.