Crime
Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray Mugshot released
A bond hearing for Gray is scheduled for Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the Barrow County Courthouse.
The mugshot of Colt Gray, the 14-year-old suspect in the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School, has been released to the public.
Gray opened fire at the school yesterday, resulting in the deaths of two teachers and two students. Nine others were injured.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Gray, charging him with four counts of felony murder. The warrants are identical except for the victim’s name.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has confirmed that Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School, is the suspect in the tragic shooting that occurred at the school.
Gray has been charged with four counts of felony murder, and additional charges are expected. He is currently in custody.
Two of the victims of the shooting were students, while the other two were teachers. The motive behind the attack remains unclear at this time.
The FBI revealed that Gray was investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in 2023 after allegedly posting online threats containing images of guns.
The threats included plans to commit a school shooting at an unspecified location and time. At the time, Gray was 13 years old.
Gray’s father stated that although there were hunting guns in their home, his son did not have unsupervised access to them. The boy also denied making the online threats.
A bond hearing for Gray is scheduled for Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the Barrow County Courthouse.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.