A 44-year-old Cuban man, Iván Aguilera Torres, was apprehended Monday morning at a motel in Lake City, Columbia County, Florida, on charges of fatally attacking another Cuban man with a machete over the weekend in Pasco County.
The victim, 39-year-old Odisnel Santana Peña, succumbed to his injuries following an altercation on Saturday night in New Port Richey, according to local media reports.
Violent Incident on Hillside Drive
The incident unfolded around 9:17 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, when officers from the New Port Richey Police Department responded to a disturbance report on Hillside Drive in Pasco County.
Upon arrival, officers found Santana Peña with a severe, life-threatening wound. Despite emergency responders' efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities reported that the confrontation started with a verbal argument between two acquaintances. Torres allegedly inflicted a fatal chest wound on Santana Peña with a machete before fleeing the scene.
Coordinated Search for the Suspect
Following the crime, New Port Richey authorities initiated a coordinated search effort across multiple agencies. The Tampa Police Department received a tip that Torres might be in a residence within their jurisdiction.
Detectives interviewed a witness who admitted to transporting the suspect to Gainesville on Sunday. Investigators reviewed security footage and data from the Flock license plate recognition system, which tracked the vehicle Torres was allegedly traveling in.
These clues led them to Lake City, approximately 50 miles north of Gainesville.
The Arrest
Officers from the Lake City Police Department located Torres at the Regal Inn on U.S. Highway 90. Establishing a perimeter, they issued multiple warnings until Torres emerged with his hands up, surrendering without resistance.
Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler praised his team's quick and systematic efforts to apprehend a suspect wanted for a serious violent crime. He highlighted their coordination with Pasco County and the hotel's staff cooperation, ensuring a safe arrest without injuries to the public, the suspect, or officers.
Torres is currently held at Columbia County Detention Center without bail, awaiting extradition to Pasco County to face a second-degree murder charge.
Recent Violent Incidents Involving Cubans in Tampa Bay Area
The homicide of Odisnel Santana Peña follows other recent violent incidents involving Cubans in the Tampa Bay area.
In June 2026, Liester Iván Cruz Mesa, a 40-year-old Cuban, died after being intentionally run over outside a Tampa nightclub. Police identified José Zamora Valdés as the suspect in that case.
Previously, in July 2024, a Cuban-origin man faced charges for the murder of his wife and another individual in Tampa.
The investigation into Santana Peña's murder is under the Pasco County Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction, which will release further details as the case progresses. Meanwhile, the New Port Richey Police Department extended condolences to the victim's family.
Understanding the Recent Crime Wave in Pasco County
Who was Iván Aguilera Torres?
Iván Aguilera Torres is a 44-year-old Cuban man arrested for allegedly killing Odisnel Santana Peña with a machete in Pasco County, Florida.
What led to the fatal confrontation between Torres and Santana Peña?
The deadly incident began with a verbal dispute between the two men, who were reportedly acquaintances, escalating into a physical altercation where Torres allegedly used a machete.
How was Torres located and arrested?
Authorities tracked Torres using surveillance footage and license plate recognition technology, leading them to his location at a Lake City motel where he was arrested without resistance.