Crime
1 killed in shooting outside Amazon fulfillment center in Pooler
A white Nissan vehicle was towed from the area as part of the evidence collection.
The Pooler Police Department is conducting an active investigation into a deadly shooting that occurred Monday morning outside the Amazon fulfillment center on Triple B Trail.
According to authorities, the incident took place in the facility’s parking lot, where a victim was shot. Emergency medical services transported the individual to a Savannah hospital, where they were later pronounced deceased.
The Chatham County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 21-year-old Keontae Grinder, a resident of Liberty County.
Officials confirmed that Grinder sustained at least one gunshot wound. An autopsy has been scheduled as part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigators processed a significant crime scene, with at least 14 evidence markers visible within the cordoned-off parking lot.
A white Nissan vehicle was towed from the area as part of the evidence collection.
The incident prompted a lockdown at the Amazon facility, and employees who arrived for their shifts were informed of the closure.
Staff members were sent home for the day, with onsite counseling resources promised upon their return to work.
Amazon released a statement expressing their condolences:
“We’re saddened by this senseless act of violence and are focused on supporting our employees during this time.”
As of Monday evening, the Pooler Police Department has not provided updates regarding a suspect or arrest in connection with the shooting.
Authorities remain in the early stages of the investigation and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Updates will be shared as new details emerge.
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.