A Cuban father who had been in the United States for less than a year was tragically killed on Sunday by another Cuban national. The perpetrator shot him in the chest as he opened the door to his Houston, Texas home. The victim, identified as 34-year-old Ediesky Piñeiro, was a father to two young daughters. The alleged shooter, 36-year-old Andrés Fernández de la Paz, was arrested the following Monday, according to police reports cited by Univision 45.
Authorities confirmed Fernández's arrest on charges of murder. Reports indicate he was located and taken into custody near Rushing Creek Lane in Katy. It emerged that Fernández is the ex-partner of Piñeiro's wife.
The Houston Police Department reported that the shooting occurred around 4:40 p.m. on April 27 at a residence on 11200 Whittingham Lane, close to Longcommon Drive in the city's southwest area.
A surveillance camera captured the murder. The footage shows Fernández walking through a corridor towards the house, gesturing to someone through a window, drawing a gun from his shorts, and firing at Piñeiro as he opens the door.
The camera's timestamp reads 4:35 p.m., and desperate screams can be heard from inside the home as the assailant retreats. However, he shortly returns, kicks the door—seemingly attempting to break in and continue shooting—but when unsuccessful, he flees in a purple Maserati.
Upon arrival, officers found Piñeiro with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was immediately transported to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Homicide detective Dustin Davis told Univision 45 that the victim's wife was inside the house during the shooting but was unharmed. Ernesto Navarro, who knew Piñeiro and was present when police arrived, confirmed Piñeiro had been in the U.S. for under a year and that the suspect was likely his wife's former partner.
Navarro also disclosed that Piñeiro's wife and their two young daughters were in the home during the incident. "Let justice be served," Navarro urged.
Social media reveals that both Piñeiro and his alleged killer hail from Manzanillo in Granma Province.
Key Details About the Houston Shooting Incident
Who was the victim in the Houston shooting?
The victim was Ediesky Piñeiro, a 34-year-old Cuban father of two young daughters.
Who is the suspect in the Houston shooting?
The suspect is Andrés Fernández de la Paz, a 36-year-old Cuban national, and former partner of the victim's wife.
Where did the shooting take place?
The incident occurred at a home on 11200 Whittingham Lane, near Longcommon Drive, in southwest Houston.
Was anyone else injured during the shooting?
No one else was injured during the shooting. The victim's wife and daughters were in the house but were unharmed.