Luis Cruz-Nazario, a 21-year-old Hispanic male, was found dead on August 31, 2016, in Belle Isle, a suburb of Orlando, Florida. Cruz-Nazario, who would have turned 22 the following day, was discovered alongside Emanuel Castro-Vazquez, a 24-year-old Hispanic male, in a parked car near Cornerstone Charter Academy. Both men had been shot multiple times.
Investigators believe they were shot on the street near Oak Ridge Road and attempted to drive to get help before succumbing to their injuries.
Cruz-Nazario was a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred at the Glitz Ultra Lounge in Orlando on February 7, 2016. This incident resulted in the deaths of Joseph Villalobos, 22, and Jonathan Avila Rojas, 33, both Hispanic males, and left ten others injured. Cruz-Nazario faced multiple charges, including attempted murder and illegally carrying a concealed weapon. He was arrested in February 2016 but was released on bond in August 2016 after a judge agreed to release him on his own recognizance.
The investigation into Cruz-Nazario's death is ongoing, with authorities exploring potential connections between his murder and the Glitz Ultra Lounge shooting. At the time of his death, Cruz-Nazario was still facing charges related to the nightclub incident. Two other suspects, Christian Castro-Cotto, 26, and Carlos Perez De Armas, 21, remain in custody, while a fourth suspect, Jose Angel Hernandez, 31, was released on bond.
The circumstances surrounding Cruz-Nazario's death and his involvement in the Glitz Ultra Lounge shooting have raised questions about possible motives and connections between the two incidents. Law enforcement continues to investigate both cases, seeking to uncover the truth behind these tragic events.
