Crime
19-Year-Old Ryder Corral Arrested After Vandalizing Memorial for Charlie Kirk at TPUSA Headquarters
Newly released surveillance footage shows 19-year-old Ryder Corral vandalizing a community memorial established in honor of Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA’s headquarters in Arizona.
According to authorities, Corral has been booked on multiple charges, including criminal damage and disorderly conduct.
The video evidence captures him deliberately forcing his way into the tribute space, where mourners had placed flowers, vases, balloons, and American flags.
Corral is seen kicking over and destroying the memorial items as bystanders looked on in shock.
He reportedly advanced nearly 15 yards through the tribute before being subdued by individuals present at the scene and taken into custody by police shortly afterward.
Investigators noted that Corral was wearing the same style of clothing that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had been seen wearing during the tragic September 10 incident that claimed Charlie Kirk’s life.
Law enforcement confirmed that Corral has no current connection to Robinson’s case but acknowledged the similarities in appearance caught on camera.
Community members expressed outrage at the act, calling it an unnecessary and cruel attack on a space meant for grieving.
“A memorial is where people bring flowers, prayers, tears, and memories,” one attendee said. “To walk into that space and stomp on it is cruel on a level that words can hardly describe.”
Supporters stressed that the act of vandalism inflicted additional pain on Kirk’s family, friends, and followers who had gathered to honor his memory.
Many condemned the behavior as a stark example of hostility overshadowing compassion.
“We have to be better than this,” one community member remarked. “We can debate ideas and challenge viewpoints, but when even a memorial isn’t safe from hate, it shows how much of our humanity is being lost.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and Corral is currently being held on the listed charges.
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.