Crime
NFL Player Irvin Charles Assaults Journalist While Covering Kris Boyd Shooting Incident
A journalist reporting on the shooting involving New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd says he was assaulted by Jets wide receiver Irvin Charles and others at the scene early Sunday morning in Midtown Manhattan.
According to the journalist’s account, he was present in an official press capacity when Charles allegedly confronted him, grabbed his phone, shoved him, and issued repeated threats.
The altercation escalated when an unidentified individual reportedly took the phone from the journalist’s hand and threw it to the ground, causing significant damage.
The journalist stated that while he was filming the scene, Charles struck the phone out of his hand without provocation, initiating the physical confrontation.
Witnesses and responding NYPD officers reportedly intervened multiple times to separate the group from the journalist.
The reporter described the encounter as aggressive and chaotic, stating he feared for his safety as he was pushed, surrounded, and yelled at.
The incident occurred as tensions ran high following the shooting of 29-year-old NFL cornerback Kris Boyd, who was critically wounded outside a popular Manhattan venue around 2:00 a.m. Sunday.
Boyd sustained two gunshot wounds to the abdomen while standing on 38th Street. According to police, two luxury vehicles fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
Boyd was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical but stable condition and was reportedly slipping in and out of consciousness.
No additional official updates have been released regarding his medical status.
Boyd’s longtime friend and former University of Texas colleague, Ernest Quander, told reporters he remains optimistic about the player’s recovery.
“He’s doing good. He’s strong — a fighter,” Quander said before boarding a flight to New York. “He’s been through tough times before. He’ll get through this.”
Boyd, who signed with the Jets in March, has been on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury and has not yet appeared in a game this season.
His NFL career includes time with the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and Houston Texans.
The New York Jets confirmed awareness of the shooting but declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
At this time, it is unclear whether NYPD will pursue charges related to the alleged assault on the journalist.
The police investigation into both the shooting and the reported altercation remains active.
Further information will be released as it becomes available.
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.