Man hospitalized from shooting revealed as suspect in 2024 Pines killing, cops say
The 15-month-long search for a man accused of a Pembroke Pines killing is over, according to police.
Kevonte Irons, 26, of Coconut Creek, was arrested by Broward sheriff’s deputies after his involvement in a Jan. 26 West Park shooting landed him in the hospital and revealed an outstanding warrant for first-degree murder, the Pembroke Pines Police Department said in a Jan. 27 statement.
Irons took a bullet to the neck outside of the Playhouse Gentlemen’s Club — 5775 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd. — Jan. 26 and is believed to be paralyzed from the injury, WPLG Local 10 reported on Jan. 27, citing Pembroke Pines police.
The Coconut Creek man and Kamari Kewon Gardner — a 28-year-old from Miami — were spotted arguing by witnesses near the strip club, reported the news station. Irons is accused of firing at another man in self-defense, and was later seen approaching Gardner mid-fight with another individual when the Miami man reportedly shot Irons in the neck, noted WPLG Local 10.
If the two men knew each other and why they were arguing are still unknown.
Pembroke Pines police first identified Irons in the Oct. 26, 2024, killing in a statement calling on the public’s help in finding him released Jan. 6, 2025.
Officers responded to 11700 Sheridan Street around 1 a.m. after receiving reports of gunfire in the area.
When they arrived, they found a crashed Nissan Altima whose driver — an adult male — was shot and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he later died, police said.
Detectives say that two vehicles were driving recklessly along Sheridan Street that night when one occupant fired at the Nissan Altima, per a preliminary investigation.
Calvin Brownlee — a 24-year-old Miramar man — was arrested in connection to the shooting the following day. He’s being held at Broward’s Main Jail on no bond and faces a first-degree murder charge, records show.
According to Brownlee’s arrest warrant, Irons drove the vehicle shots were fired from — a black Mercedes AMG GLE — while Brownlee pulled the trigger.
The pair was speeding at over 100 miles before Irons is accused of pulling up to the Nissan Altima as Brownlee reportedly rolled down his passenger window and fired “an AK-47-style rifle,” reads the warrant.
Police say they were unable to find Irons at his Coconut Creek home or contact him via a cell phone number his mother gave officers.
Numerous attempts to reach him through his attorneys proved unsuccessful, with his lawyers saying “he was scared” and didn’t want to to speak with detectives regardless of a DNA warrant issued for him.
Per Brownlee’s warrant, Irons dodged meetings and calls with his probation officer, violating his terms of probation, to evade officers.
It’s unclear where Irons is being held as of Jan. 27.
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 6:42 PM.
