Crime
Jason Phillips Charged in Fatal Shooting of Wife Joanna Phillips While Out on Bond for Prior Domestic Violence Case
SISSONVILLE, W.Va. — A Sissonville man charged in the fatal shooting of his wife had previously been ordered to have no contact with her, according to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and court records.
Authorities said 46-year-old Jason Joe Phillips called Metro 911 early Saturday morning to report that he had shot his wife, Joanna Lynn Phillips, 46, inside their residence located in the 3500 block of Allens Fork Road.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Joanna Phillips deceased inside the home. Investigators determined she had suffered a fatal shotgun wound.
Jason Phillips was taken into custody at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder.
According to law enforcement officials and court documents, Phillips was already out on bond at the time of the shooting in connection with a previous domestic violence case involving the victim.
In March, he was charged with domestic battery. He later turned himself in to authorities in October after being featured by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office during a Domestic Violence Awareness Month segment.
Phillips was subsequently released on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond. As a condition of that bond, he was ordered to have no contact with Joanna Phillips.
Following his arrest in the homicide case, Jason Phillips was transported to the South Central Regional Jail, where he is currently being held.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.
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.