Orlando Police Charge Man With Second-Degree Murder After Shooting Outside Savoy LGBTQ+ Nightclub
Shooting reported after crowds left North Orange Avenue club
A 33-year-old man was fatally shot early Sunday morning outside Savoy Orlando, a well-known LGBTQ+ nightclub near Lake Ivanhoe, in an incident that police say followed an argument that escalated into violence.
Orlando Police said officers were called to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue at about 2:31 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, after reports of a shooting. At the scene, officers found Julien Emmanuel Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police allege dispute escalated from confrontation to gunfire
Investigators said the shooting occurred after a verbal dispute that became physical on the sidewalk as people were leaving the area around the club. Police allege the suspect retrieved a firearm from a vehicle during the confrontation and fired, then left the scene.
Orlando Police identified the suspect as Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr, 37. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder with a firearm. Police said the suspect vehicle was later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, about two blocks from the shooting location.
Family raises questions about who fired the fatal shot
Cruz’s family said they are seeking clarity about the moments leading up to the shooting and who pulled the trigger. Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, told local media that his son intervened when a fight broke out involving Cruz’s partner and someone from a vehicle that had stopped after driving past the club as it was closing.
The family’s account emphasizes that more than one person may have been involved, and they want investigators to determine precisely who fired the fatal round.
Police have not publicly detailed whether additional suspects are being sought. As of Monday morning, February 23, 2026, Borja Gil De La Madr had appeared in court and was ordered held without bond.
Club ownership says community shaken, memorial forms nearby
Savoy ownership said the shooting happened outside the club’s premises but still deeply affected patrons and staff. By Sunday, a small memorial had begun forming across from the venue.
What is known so far
Date and time: approximately 2:31 a.m., Sunday, February 22, 2026
Location: 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, near Lake Ivanhoe
Victim: Julien Emmanuel Cruz, 33, pronounced dead at a hospital
Charge: second-degree murder with a firearm against Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr, 37
The investigation remained active Monday, with authorities continuing to reconstruct the sequence of events outside the nightclub and assess witness accounts.