Crime
Angela Taylor dead after North Knoxville crash and shooting on Worth Street
The Knoxville Police Department has confirmed that Angela Taylor, the woman found unresponsive at the scene of a shooting and subsequent crash on Worth Street Friday evening, has died from her injuries.
According to KPD, Taylor was not struck by gunfire. Following an examination by personnel from the Regional Forensic Center, her cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma sustained in the vehicle crash.
The second victim — a woman who suffered a gunshot wound — remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
KPD announced that additional charges are expected against the suspects, identified as 20-year-old Jamarcus Murphy and 18-year-old Jamahus Murphy, in connection with Taylor’s death.
The incident began around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, when officers were dispatched to reports of a shooting in the area of West Oldham Avenue and Worth Street in North Knoxville.
Responding officers located a vehicle that had crashed down an embankment, containing two women: one who had been shot and Taylor, who was unresponsive and believed to have been injured in the crash. Both victims were transported to UT Medical Center for emergency treatment.
Investigators determined that the shooting occurred near the intersection of Worth Street and West Emerald Avenue.
Surveillance footage captured a Black Honda Accord fleeing the scene immediately after the gunfire.
Members of the Community Engagement Response Team and Violent Crimes Unit detectives worked quickly to identify and track the suspect vehicle, which was located at a Kroger store on Clinton Highway.
Both Jamarcus and Jamahus Murphy were detained at the scene.
After interviews with Violent Crimes detectives, both men were charged with attempted first-degree murder.
Additionally, Jamahus Murphy faces a charge of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
The investigation remains active, and further charges related to the fatal crash are anticipated.
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.