Crime
Video shows people seen fleeing Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara after shooting
SAN JOSE, California — Police confirm three people were shot and transported to a local hospital following a shooting Friday evening at Westfield Valley Fair Mall during the height of Black Friday shopping activity.
According to the San Jose Police Department, officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire inside the mall. When emergency units arrived, they located victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
All three were transported to nearby hospitals, and their injuries have since been classified as non–life-threatening.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident rather than an active shooter situation.
In a statement posted to X, San Jose Police wrote:
“Officers are still diligently clearing the mall. In total, three victims were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Please continue to avoid the area.”
Police and security teams continued to evacuate and clear individual retail spaces out of an abundance of caution to ensure there was no ongoing threat.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also addressed the public, stating:
“This is not the news I wanted to share with you this holiday weekend. There is no ongoing threat to the community. My prayers are with these victims, and I know our officers are doing everything they can to find the person responsible and hold them accountable.”
The shooting triggered widespread panic inside the crowded mall, with hundreds of shoppers seeking shelter inside stores.
Images and videos posted to social media showed people barricading store entrances, hiding behind merchandise displays, and rushing out of exits as police arrived.
One shopper posted:
“Potential active shooter situation at Valley Fair Mall in the Silicon Valley area — shoutout to Abercrombie for the comfy hiding spot,”
accompanied by images of frightened customers sheltering inside a stockroom.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including Santa Clara and San Jose police, remain on scene.
As of the latest update, authorities have not confirmed whether a suspect has been identified or taken into custody.
Residents and shoppers are urged to avoid the mall until further notice as the investigation continues.
Additional updates will be released as more verified information be
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.