PHOTO VIA ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Orlando Police arrested a man in connection with a fatal shooting near Savoy nightclub early Saturday morning. Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr, 37, was charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm following the death of Julien Emmanuel Cruz, 33.
Officers responded to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22. Cruz was found suffering from a gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to the police report.
The investigation revealed that Cruz and Borja Gil De La Madr were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk prior to the shooting. During the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
Borja Gil De La Madr fled the scene in his vehicle. Patrol units located the vehicle at the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue. He was later arrested.
An eyewitness account posted on Reddit described the incident as starting when a pedestrian crossing the street after leaving Savoy was nearly hit by a Jeep Wrangler. The driver honked, and the pedestrian responded with a gesture. The driver then got out of his vehicle, and a physical altercation ensued.
According to the account, multiple people from the crowd exiting Savoy became involved in the fight. The driver returned to his vehicle, but others attempted to pull him from the car, allegedly damaging the car. The shooting occurred as someone was trying to pull the driver out. Cruz was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A statement, allegedly from Savoy Orlando, was shared on a site called Everlasting Memory, acknowledging the tragedy. The statement reaffirmed that the incident did not occur inside the venue but expressed condolences to the victim’s family and the community.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected during this devastating time,” the statement reads. “The management and team at Savoy Orlando are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities as they continue their investigation.”
The statement emphasizes that public safety and the well-being of guests, staff, and the surrounding community remain their highest priority.
This marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026, according to Orlando Police. The investigation remains active. Orlando Police have not released additional information to protect the integrity of the case.
