In the early morning hours of December 12, 2023, a violent encounter in Northeast, Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of two brothers. 28-year-old Octavio Quintano, a Hispanic male from Silver Spring, Maryland, and his 35-year-old brother, Osmine Quintano, of Northeast, D.C., were fatally shot. The incident unfolded around 12:04 a.m. in the 2300 block of 4th Street, Northeast, just steps away from The Pollo Company, a restaurant where the brothers had worked for several years.
Earlier
that evening, after the restaurant closed, the brothers were reportedly hanging out nearby. An altercation involving multiple people preceded the fatal shooting. Surveillance footage captured a verbal dispute between the brothers and a man later identified as 24-year-old Ronzoni Allen Jackson Jr. Following the argument, Jackson allegedly shot both brothers. After being shot, the brothers crawled underneath a car, where they died next to each other. Police recovered no weapons from or near the victims.
A few days later, on December 16, Ronzoni Jackson Jr. called 911 to turn himself in, stating he was 'wanted for murder' and admitting to shooting someone. He claimed he was drunk during the incident and could not remember the reason for his actions, also mentioning that he had mental health issues. After a psychiatric evaluation, Jackson was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed.
Ronzoni Jackson Jr. pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bond. Court documents and proceedings have revealed more about the night of the shooting and Jackson's state of mind. During his confession, he expressed remorse but also made statements suggesting he might have intended to shoot someone else. His legal team has indicated they are exploring an insanity defense, and he has undergone competency evaluations. The case is proceeding through the court system, with a trial date set for early 2026.
