Crime
Who Is Mustapha Kharbouch? Brown University student who falsely accused on social media of being the suspect
Statements have been released by the legal team representing Mustapha Kharbouch, a Brown University student who was falsely accused on social media of involvement in the recent mass shooting on campus.
Authorities have since identified the actual suspect, and there is no evidence linking Kharbouch to the attack.
In a formal press statement, Kharbouch’s attorneys said their client has been subjected to an intense and harmful online smear campaign following the shooting, which left two students dead and several others injured.
The legal team emphasized that Mustapha Kharbouch is a respected and exemplary member of the Brown University community, describing him as an exceptional student and an engaged global citizen.
They stated that, for more than a week, Kharbouch was targeted by a disturbing wave of racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Palestinian harassment, including efforts to falsely associate him with the tragedy solely because of his Palestinian identity.
According to the statement, these baseless allegations not only damaged Kharbouch’s reputation, but also risked diverting law enforcement attention from legitimate investigative leads at a critical time.
The legal team confirmed that, prior to the identification of the actual suspect, they fully cooperated with law enforcement, responding to inquiries regarding Kharbouch’s whereabouts on the day of the shooting.
The attorneys directly attributed the online attacks to anti-Palestinian racism, stating that bad-faith actors attempted to assign blame to Kharbouch based solely on his ethnicity and political advocacy.
They warned that such narratives do not merely harm one individual, but also serve to vilify Arab and Muslim communities more broadly and contribute to a dangerous climate of hate.
The statement referenced previous acts of violence fueled by similar rhetoric, including the killing of 6-year-old Wadea al-Fayoume in Chicago and the 2023 shooting of three Palestinian-American students in Vermont, one of whom was affiliated with Brown University.
Following the spread of misinformation by far-right online influencers, several Brown University webpages that referenced Kharbouch were temporarily removed.
His legal team said this was a standard safety precaution taken to protect individuals who have been doxxed and subjected to credible threats. They stressed that no one should be forced to endure harassment, death threats, or fear simply because of their identity.
Now that the suspect has been identified, the legal team expressed hope that Kharbouch—and the broader Brown University community—can begin to heal and grieve without further misinformation or harassment.
In a personal statement, Mustapha Kharbouch described the experience as deeply traumatic:
“The past few days have been an unimaginable nightmare. I woke up on Tuesday morning to unfounded, vile, Islamophobic, and anti-Palestinian accusations being directed toward me online. Instead of grieving with my community in the aftermath of the horrible shooting, I received non-stop death threats and hate speech.”
Kharbouch added that while his experience was painful, it reflects a broader pattern faced by marginalized communities:
“This is a story every Arab, Muslim, Palestinian, and marginalized person knows all too well. We should not live in a world where this is acceptable or normal.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to speaking out against racism and injustice, stating that he would not be silenced for his identity or his advocacy for Palestinians.
Kharbouch also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received from friends, faculty, staff, and strangers, saying those messages have helped restore his faith in a world that stands firmly against hate in all its forms.
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.