Crime
Officer Shot Outside WakeMed Garner Emergency Department, Suspect in Custody
GARNER, NC (Wake County) — A law enforcement officer was shot outside the WakeMed Garner Emergency Department located in the 400 block of Goldsboro Highway, prompting a massive police response and temporary lockdown of the facility.
According to initial reports, the incident occurred just after 8:00 p.m., when an unidentified suspect opened fire near the hospital entrance, striking a police officer.
Emergency personnel inside the facility immediately initiated trauma protocols while securing the scene to prevent further danger to staff, patients, and visitors.
The wounded officer was quickly stabilized at the scene by medical personnel and subsequently transported under police escort to a regional trauma center in Raleigh for advanced treatment.
As of this time, no official update has been released regarding the officer’s condition.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody shortly after the shooting without further incident.
Investigators have emphasized that the officer was the only victim in the attack, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Law enforcement agencies from across Wake County—including the Garner Police Department, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and North Carolina State Highway Patrol—responded to assist in securing the perimeter and clearing the hospital building to ensure the safety of all occupants.
WakeMed officials released a brief statement acknowledging the incident and commending first responders for their swift actions, stating that hospital operations have since resumed under heightened security.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has been called in to lead the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Further details, including the identities of the officer and the suspect, have not yet been released pending notification of family members.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as the investigation remains active and heavy law enforcement presence continues at and around WakeMed Garner Emergency Department.
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.