It was supposed to be the end of another night at Savoy Orlando, a vibrant hub for the LGBTQ+ community. Instead, it turned into a nightmare. Early Sunday morning, just as the crowd was heading out the door, 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz was fatally shot outside the club—a moment that spiraled from a brief verbal spat to a devastating loss.
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From Verbal to Fatal
At around 2:30 a.m., Orlando police responded to reports of a shooting. They found Cruz, bleeding from a gunshot wound, and rushed him to the hospital. But, tragically, he didn’t make it. The scene was chaotic—just another night at the club, but one that ended in heartbreak.
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What triggered the shooting? Well, it all started with a fight. Cruz and his partner were leaving Savoy Orlando, but as they made their way out, a car drove by. Apparently, the occupants of the car didn’t like what was said in passing. Words were exchanged, things got physical, and suddenly, it all escalated. According to police, that’s when the suspect—Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr—allegedly retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
Grief in the Wake of Senseless Violence
Now, here’s the part that really cuts deep: Cruz’s family insists that his death was completely unnecessary. Anthony Cruz, Julien’s father, told reporters from WESH that his son wasn’t looking for trouble—he was just trying to intervene when the fight broke out. “When they fought, my son saw what was happening, my son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” he explained. His words are raw with grief, frustration, and the painful realization that a single moment of violence stole his son’s future.
The whole incident feels absurd in its senselessness. Imagine leaving a nightclub, where you’ve been dancing the night away, only to have a confrontation turn deadly because of something that could’ve been solved with a few calm words. Instead of winding down the night with a peaceful ride home, Cruz and his partner found themselves in the middle of a fight that ended with a bullet.
A Father’s Heartbreak
Anthony Cruz shared the heartbreak that so many parents fear. “All I have left is a shirt. A shirt with a bullet hole. And this is just not cool,” he said, his voice shaking. The shirt? It’s a memento of the night that no one should ever have to hold onto. It’s a chilling reminder of how quickly things can go sideways.
Justice or Just Another Statistic?
As for the alleged shooter, Borja Gil De La Madr, he’s been arrested and charged with second-degree murder with a firearm. He’s currently being held without bond, awaiting further proceedings. And while he’s facing justice, it’s still hard to swallow that a moment of miscommunication has left a family forever changed.
Orlando’s Third Homicide of 2026
This incident marks Orlando’s third homicide of 2026—and it’s a brutal reminder of how easily a night of fun can turn tragic. For the LGBTQ+ community, a place meant for joy and celebration now carries the weight of this loss. Julien’s death is a punch in the gut for a city that prides itself on inclusivity and safety. No one should leave a nightclub, especially one that’s meant to be a sanctuary, only to fall victim to violence.
As we process this senseless loss, the question remains: How do we prevent moments like this from happening again? For now, the Cruz family is left with grief and memories, holding onto a shirt stained with the ultimate price of a night gone wrong.