In the early hours of Sunday, February 22, 2026, a dispute between two men outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village escalated into deadly violence, claiming the life of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz.
Officers with the Orlando Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 2:31 a.m. in the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, an entertainment district north of Lake Ivanhoe. Upon arrival, they found Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and rushed him to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation revealed that the fatal encounter began as a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk between Cruz and 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr. According to police, during the confrontation, Gil De La Madr went to his vehicle, retrieved a firearm, and shot Cruz.
An eyewitness account posted online described the incident as starting when a pedestrian crossing the street after leaving the Savoy nightclub was nearly hit by a Jeep Wrangler, with the situation rapidly escalating into a physical fight involving multiple people.
Following the shooting, Gil De La Madr fled the scene in his vehicle. Patrol units later located his car in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, where he was taken into custody. He was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder with a firearm. The Orlando Police Department confirmed that this marks the third homicide in the city for the year 2026.
Savoy Orlando, the nightclub near where the incident occurred, released a statement acknowledging the tragedy and reaffirming that the event did not take place inside the venue. The management expressed condolences to the victim’s family and the community, stating they were fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities as the investigation continued. The statement emphasized that public safety and the well-being of guests, staff, and the surrounding community remain their highest priority.
Julien Emmanuel Cruz, born May 18, 1992, was 33 years old at the time of his death. His family and friends are now seeking answers and accountability as the legal process moves forward. The Orlando Police Department’s Homicide Unit continues to investigate the case, and anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeLine at 800-423-TIPS or the Orlando Police non-emergency line.
The shooting has drawn renewed attention to late-night safety in Orlando’s central business district, coming just days after another violent episode downtown. As the community mourns the loss of a life, the accused remains in custody facing serious charges, and investigators continue to piece together the events that transformed a sidewalk argument into a fatal shooting on North Orange Avenue.