Crime
Suspect Emmauel Onious Williams captured after pursuit in Gwinnett County
Seneca, SC — On the evening of November 27, the Seneca Police Department responded to reports of gunfire at the Greenfield Apartments around 6:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds at the scene.
Officers and first responders immediately administered first aid to the victims before arranging for their emergency transport.
All three individuals were airlifted to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Their conditions have not been publicly disclosed at this time.
Through an intensive investigation, Seneca Police identified 29-year-old Emmanuel Onious Williams as the primary suspect in the shooting.
The exact circumstances leading to the incident remain under investigation, but officials are working to establish a motive and any connections between Williams and the victims.
Williams was apprehended later that same evening around 8:00 p.m. in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Authorities in Georgia detained him on unrelated charges and confirmed that he is also being held for Seneca Police Department on three counts of attempted murder.
Williams is currently awaiting extradition to South Carolina to face charges for the Greenfield Apartments shooting. The Seneca Police Department continues to work closely with Gwinnett County authorities to facilitate his transfer.
The Greenfield Apartments shooting has left the Seneca community shaken. Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward as the investigation continues.
For tips or information, contact the Seneca Police Department directly or use local anonymous tip lines. Further updates will be provided as they become 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.