ORLANDO, Florida — A night meant for celebration turned into heartbreak early Sunday morning when a 33-year-old gay man was shot and killed outside Savoy Orlando, a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub in downtown Orlando. The incident has rattled the local queer community and sparked calls for justice as friends and family grapple with the devastating loss.
According to police, the shooting occurred at around 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, on North Orange Avenue just north of Lake Ivanhoe, shortly after Savoy Orlando was closing for the night. Officers responding to reports of gunfire discovered the victim with a gunshot wound and transported him to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Authorities have identified the victim as Julien Emmanuel Cruz, a Florida resident whose life was cut short in what appeared to be a sudden outbreak of violence following a verbal altercation. A suspect, 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr, has been charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and is being held without bond, according to court records and police statements.
While the altercation that escalated into gunfire unfolded on the sidewalk rather than inside the nightclub itself, Savoy Orlando’s management and patrons say the impact on the LGBTQ+ community has been profound. Joshua Cooper, one of the club’s owners, said the tragedy has “shaken the entire community,” highlighting how even moments meant for joy can be interrupted by violence.
According to accounts from Cruz’s partner and his father, the deadly encounter began when Cruz and his partner were leaving the club and had an exchange with occupants of a passing vehicle. The situation reportedly grew heated, leading to a physical confrontation in which Cruz stepped in to support his partner. In the chaos that followed, one of the individuals in the vehicle retrieved a firearm and shot Cruz.
“My son didn’t deserve what happened,” Cruz’s father said, describing the loss as incomprehensible and sudden. “He was supposed to bury me. I’m not supposed to be burying my son.” The family’s grief has been shared by friends and community members in the wake of the tragedy, many of whom have left flowers and messages at an impromptu memorial near the scene.
Some relatives have suggested that another individual may also have been involved in the incident, and investigators have not ruled out additional charges or persons of interest as the case continues to develop.
The shooting comes at a time when LGBTQ+ spaces continue to be both vital cultural centers and, all too often, sites touched by violence. While investigators have not publicly labeled this incident as a hate crime, the broader emotional response from the community reflects longstanding concerns about the safety of queer public life.
As the Orlando Police Department continues its investigation, Cruz’s loved ones and the local LGBTQ+ community are left to mourn the loss of a life taken too soon and to raise awareness about violence that can erupt far too easily on a night out.
