Crime
Barricaded Suspect Justin Goggans Taken Into Custody After Active Situation at Fort Stewart
FORT STEWART, Ga. — A major law-enforcement response unfolded at Fort Stewart on Monday afternoon after a man barricaded himself inside a building in the Bryan Village housing area, prompting an immediate shelter-in-place order and basewide lockdown.
At 17:02, Fort Stewart officials issued an urgent alert announcing that the installation was on lockdown due to an unfolding incident in a residential area.
Residents were instructed to remain indoors and avoid the affected zone while military police and local law-enforcement agencies responded.
Officials later confirmed that a shelter-in-place directive had been implemented for the entire post while authorities worked to contain the situation.
Personnel were urged to follow official Fort Stewart–Hunter Army Airfield communication channels for verified updates.
By mid-afternoon, authorities confirmed that the individual had barricaded himself inside a structure within Bryan Village.
The Georgia State Patrol in Rincon reported that shots had been fired during the standoff. A significant law-enforcement presence—military police, GSP units, and local agencies—converged on the scene.
The suspect was identified as Justin Goggans.
According to officials, law enforcement made repeated attempts to de-escalate the situation and negotiate with him.
Family members and close friends also appealed to Goggans on social media, urging him to surrender peacefully.
In a subsequent update, Fort Stewart announced that the shelter-in-place order had been lifted, though residents were still asked to avoid the Bryan Village area due to the active and sensitive nature of the incident.
At 17:50, authorities confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody alive, bringing the immediate threat to an end.
No further details regarding injuries or additional circumstances were immediately released.
Officials continue to urge the public to avoid the area as law enforcement processes the scene and conducts follow-up investigations.
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.