Ariel Betancourt Ramírez, a 48-year-old Cuban national, was tragically stabbed to death in Georgetown, Guyana, this past Saturday. Authorities have described the incident as a daylight robbery. Betancourt was on his way to meet his wife when the attack occurred.
Local newspaper Stabroek News reported that Betancourt was assaulted around 2:10 p.m. on Middle Road, La Penitence. Family members noted that he was wearing a gold chain, which was missing following the attack.
Juan Díaz, a close friend, mentioned that Betancourt's wife is employed at a nearby factory, and the couple typically met up around that time to walk home together. However, on this particular Saturday, just two blocks from their apartment, two assailants confronted him, stabbed him, and vanished without a trace.
Initially, journalist Travis Chase from HGP Nightly News reported that the victim appeared to be a Spanish-speaking individual involved in a violent robbery. He later confirmed the victim's Cuban nationality.
Chase detailed that Betancourt suffered two stab wounds—one to the chest and another to the left side—and succumbed to his injuries at the scene before medical help could arrive. His remains were transported to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home as investigations continue.
Authorities discovered a blood-stained knife in a nearby drain, believed to be the murder weapon. CCTV footage from the National Command Center captured two men of African descent approaching the victim on bicycles and fleeing westward. One suspect reportedly discarded the weapon during their escape. Both suspects remain at large.
The killing of Ariel amplifies the growing concerns among the Cuban community in Guyana, a nation that has increasingly become a migration route, temporary employment hub, or consular destination in recent years.
In August, another Cuban, Pedro Alexander Frometa Slonchak, aged 34, was shot dead inside a Georgetown supermarket, a case that remains under investigation.
Additionally, the recent death of Milena, a young Cuban woman who faced complications post-childbirth, sparked an outpouring of grief and anxiety on social media regarding the plight of migrants in Guyana.
The Safety of Cubans in Guyana
What happened to Ariel Betancourt Ramírez in Guyana?
Ariel Betancourt Ramírez, a Cuban citizen, was fatally stabbed in Georgetown during an apparent daylight robbery while on his way to meet his wife.
What evidence was found in connection with Ariel Betancourt's murder?
Authorities recovered a blood-stained knife in a nearby drain, believed to be the weapon used in the attack, and CCTV footage captured two suspects fleeing the scene.
Why is there concern among Cubans in Guyana?
The Cuban community in Guyana is increasingly worried due to a series of violent incidents involving Cubans, including recent murders and distressing social media reports.