Violence in Cuba: Shock Over Murder of Elderly Man in Manzanillo

The tragic murder of an elderly man last week in the city of Manzanillo, located in Granma province, has sent shockwaves through the community, underscoring the increasing insecurity and rising crime rates in Cuba. The victim, identified on social media as Edilberto Álvarez Fonseca, was 70 years old and lived in this eastern Cuban town. In the early hours of last Wednesday, he was attacked by five individuals in an apparent robbery attempt, as reported by the Facebook group "Crimes and Missing Persons in Cuba."

According to the post, on the day of the murder, Álvarez, described as a "respected and beloved man," left his home at 4:00 a.m. to take care of some business related to his work permit. He was ambushed by a group of five people near Parque Céspedes, according to a woman who witnessed the incident. Álvarez tried to defend himself by drawing a knife from his bag, managing to wound two of the attackers, one of whom was injured in the face. Unfortunately, he was fatally stabbed in the arm, severing an artery and leading to his death.

Witnesses recounted Álvarez’s final plea, "Don’t let me die," as he lay injured. In response to his cries for help, the same woman called the police, who quickly transported him to the hospital. However, the loss of blood was too severe, and he did not survive. A family member, speaking under anonymity, revealed that on the day of the crime, the police notified them of the arrest of three of the assailants and, on the day of the funeral, a fourth was detained. Despite this, there has been no further information about the case.

Nearly a week has passed, yet both authorities and state-run media remain silent on the murder and the arrests. Those close to Álvarez and residents of the area confirmed the horrific event. Eva Bazán, a relative of Álvarez, shared a heart-wrenching account: “There needs to be a strong response to crime and drugs. Yesterday, around 4:30 in the morning, in the park of Manzanillo, near the Onat offices, five criminals killed my brother at heart, Edilberto Álvarez Fonseca, a dignified and honorable man. He was about to handle some paperwork when they attacked him, demanding money.”

“He defended himself with a small knife he had in his bag, but they were too many. They inflicted a severe wound on his arm, severing veins. He cried for help. When the police arrived, they rushed him to the Celia Sánchez Manduley Hospital, but he died,” Bazán revealed. In her grief, she called for decisive action from the authorities: “Will crime and drugs do as they please, or do we need someone like Bukele to teach thieves respect? Once a General of the Army said: ‘He who kills with iron, dies by iron.’ The death penalty isn’t enforced, yet thieves kill good people like in this case. They are sentenced to 20 years, and after serving a little over half, they are free, while we mourn our brother at heart. We grew up together; his sister is my sister-in-law, and he was a true gentleman, educated and honorable. Firm action, Mr. President. The streets don’t belong to criminals; they belong to decent men and women. This pain compelled me to say all this. Tough measures, damn it.”

A local resident also shared details of the incident: “It happened right next to the building where I live. The man was crying for help, saying he was bleeding out, pleading not to be left to die. By the time neighbors came out, he had lost a lot of blood. Despite the quick response and being taken by car, the hemorrhage was too severe.”

Another neighbor expressed sorrow over the news: “It saddens me to hear such tragic news, the murder of a decent, hardworking neighbor. Such a bitter reality in his final moments. My condolences to his family and friends.” Daniel Herrero Pacheco reflected on his friendship with Álvarez: “Rest in peace, dear friend. I worked with him at MINAZ; he was a cultured person and a good friend.”

Many expressed their grief and anger over the heinous act that cut Álvarez’s life short, while also voicing concerns over the growing dangers facing citizens amid escalating crime, which has worsened as the country's economic crisis deepens. “I visited Manzanillo recently and didn’t want to believe what they were telling me. It’s true that everything is lost in this country, a symptom of hunger and misery,” remarked Aileen Pérez.

“What agony, what unrest, what sadness, what helplessness, what scoundrels. Where are we headed?”; “Justice, harsh measures against such acts, Cuba has become the most dangerous country in the world,” were among other user comments. Eledimir Santiesteban shared his concerns and issued a warning: “My condolences to the victim’s family; I believe it’s time to crack down on crime. If we continue at this pace, we will become an unsafe nation, where people fear going outside. Incidents like these must be judged harshly, as criminals steal from homes and attack both young and old; hooded youths roam at night and motorcycles move about in the early hours, as if there’s a criminal plan in place. If we don’t act now, it will be too late.”

Many echoed his sentiment, urging authorities to take strong action against crime and deliver justice with severe sentences—including the death penalty—against those responsible for the crime that has left Manzanillo in mourning for over a week.