Federal and local authorities are searching for a 23-year-old man accused of fatally shooting two people outside a Chipotle restaurant in a busy shopping plaza and then fleeing with help from others, officials said. The suspect, identified as Davinci Leonard of Brockton, is wanted in the March 22 double homicide in the parking lot at 500 Westgate Drive, and investigators say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Investigators said the victims were 15-year-old Tymari Albertson and 18-year-old Cevannah Alvarez, who were shot during an encounter outside the restaurant and died at separate hospitals. The killings rattled Brockton, a city of roughly 100,000 south of Boston, and set off a months-long investigation by Brockton police and the Plymouth County district attorney’s office. This week, the U.S. Marshals Service joined the manhunt and announced a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to Leonard’s arrest. Authorities also said two other people allegedly helped him escape the scene, and detectives are working to track those associates and review any potential charges connected to aiding his flight.
Police and medics responded to the Westgate Mall area after multiple 911 callers reported gunfire and people running from the Chipotle lot. Officers found two victims with gunshot wounds and began lifesaving measures as crowds gathered at the perimeter and traffic backed up along Westgate Drive. Both victims were rushed to Good Samaritan Medical Center, and Alvarez was later flown to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she died. Detectives secured the lot with crime-scene tape, collected shell casings, and obtained surveillance video from nearby storefronts and road cameras. “This was a brazen act in a public place,” a Brockton police spokesperson said at the time, adding that footage showed a shooter firing before fleeing into a waiting vehicle. Prosecutors said witness interviews and video evidence led them to seek warrants for Leonard’s arrest in the days after the shootings.
Officials described Leonard as about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has ties across the Boston area and contacts outside Massachusetts, investigators said. U.S. Marshals in the District of Massachusetts confirmed they are coordinating with state police, Brockton police and regional task forces as they pursue tips and analyze digital leads. The agency released a wanted poster and urged anyone who spots Leonard not to approach him. Authorities said they have seized a vehicle believed to have been used to leave the scene and are examining it for DNA and ballistic traces that could link to the weapon used. The type of firearm has not been publicly disclosed, and investigators have not said whether they recovered the gun.
Court documents indicate the shooting unfolded during a brief confrontation in the lot, though a precise motive remains unclear. Detectives have not alleged that Albertson or Alvarez exchanged gunfire. Family members of both victims have held memorials and shared photos from school and community events, remembering Albertson for his easy smile and Alvarez for her drive and kindness. The restaurant closed temporarily while crews scrubbed the scene and police completed the initial canvas of stores flanking the strip center, where fast-casual eateries and national retailers draw steady foot traffic.
The shopping corridor off routes 24 and 27 is one of Brockton’s busiest areas, and the crowd on the Saturday of the shooting included shoppers heading to nearby big-box stores and teens gathered at restaurants. Workers at neighboring businesses told officers they heard several cracks in quick succession, followed by shouting and the sight of people ducking behind cars. One employee said she shepherded customers into a back room until police arrived. After ambulances left, officers expanded the perimeter and searched behind dumpsters and hedges for clothing or discarded items that might be tied to the suspect’s escape.
As the case shifted from immediate response to investigation, the district attorney’s office reviewed hours of video pulled from parking lot cameras and the state’s traffic system. Analysts tracked social-media posts that mentioned the shooting and compared them with geolocation data, according to people briefed on the case. Detectives also checked pawn and gun-shop records and asked nearby departments to flag any traffic stops involving Leonard or his known associates. Authorities have not identified the two people alleged to have helped him flee, saying only that the inquiry into their roles is ongoing and could result in separate charges.
In Brockton, the killings revived debates over youth violence and gun access in Greater Boston’s Gateway Cities. Community groups held vigils near the mall in the weeks that followed, and city officials met with business leaders about lighting, cameras and police presence. Records show Westgate-area businesses share a camera network that often aids in theft and car break-in cases; in this investigation, police said high-resolution footage captured key moments before and after the gunfire. The city has seen periods of heightened violence in recent years, but a double homicide in a crowded lot drew particular attention from state officials, who offered forensic support and additional investigators.
On Monday, federal authorities said the reward for Leonard was aimed at shaking loose tips from across the region after previous leads cooled. U.S. Marshals circulated the wanted notice to task forces in New England and beyond and asked the public to report sightings immediately. Agents said Leonard might be moving between addresses or relying on acquaintances for short stays. Investigators also asked bus and rideshare companies to alert them to any accounts or routes that could match his movements in the days after the shooting. There has been no public indication that Leonard crossed the U.S. border, and officials did not announce any international warrants.
Prosecutors have not disclosed whether a grand jury has considered the case. In Massachusetts, murder charges can proceed by complaint or indictment; in most homicide investigations, prosecutors eventually present evidence to a grand jury to formalize counts before trial. If Leonard is arrested out of state, the case would trigger extradition proceedings and a transfer to Plymouth County for arraignment. The district attorney’s office said it would seek to hold him without bail pending trial. Meanwhile, the two alleged accomplices, once identified, could face charges ranging from accessory after the fact to obstruction, depending on evidence that they knowingly assisted his escape.
At the scene the week of the shooting, mourners left flowers and candles along a low hedge that separates the lot from the sidewalk. A pastor from a nearby church led a moment of silence as evening traffic passed. “We want justice for these kids,” a relative said, calling for anyone with information to come forward. In the months since, the families have kept the victims’ memories in the public eye, sharing remembrances at school programs and community events. Friends described Alvarez as a dedicated student who dreamed of a career in health care, and Albertson as a sports fan who teased his cousins and helped elders carry groceries.
As of Friday, authorities said the manhunt remained active, with task-force officers checking new addresses and monitoring tips tied to the reward announcement. Investigators are still piecing together the suspect’s movements after he left the Chipotle lot and assessing how the escape unfolded with alleged help from others. Officials said any major developments would be announced by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Plymouth County district attorney. The families of Alvarez and Albertson plan to gather again next month to mark what would have been another milestone in their lives, hoping the next update includes an arrest.