A man, identified by the initials MHL, has been apprehended in Cárdenas, Matanzas, as the alleged perpetrator responsible for the fatal shooting of a woman in the Finca Merceditas community, according to a new report released on Tuesday.
The state-run platform Con Todos La Victoria, serving as the voice for the MININT, names the victim as a 58-year-old woman and claims that the incident stemmed from a personal dispute.
According to this account, the suspect reportedly fired a .38 caliber revolver at the woman, who was the mother of his partner.
The report further states that three additional individuals sustained minor injuries while attempting to intervene in the altercation.
“His wife, daughter, and son-in-law sustained minor injuries from the gun's handle while trying to stop him,” the spokesperson added.
All were reportedly treated at the Julio Manuel Aristegui Villamil Municipal Hospital, with no significant complications reported, according to the same source.
The publication indicates that the man has been detained and will face justice; however, it does not specify the charges, whether a formal accusation has been made, or his current legal status.
This new version also presents discrepancies from earlier reports regarding how the man was taken into custody.
The initial report on the case noted that the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) claimed the alleged assailant surrendered to the police the same day, whereas another version by journalist Christian Arbolaez suggested he was later located by a relative and then handed over to authorities.
Conversely, Con Todos La Victoria now asserts that he was "immediately detained."
The victim had been previously identified as NDS. According to OGAT, she died on October 2 while trying to protect her daughter during a violent episode attributed to her daughter's former partner. The observatory gathered information from family and community sources.
OGAT classified the woman's death as the 57th confirmed femicide in Cuba in 2026, as of October 5. The observatory also recorded 27 attempted femicides and two male murders in contexts of gender-based violence.
This figure marks a further increase from early October when the tally reached 56 verified femicides. By then, the total had already surpassed the documented cases for all of 2025.
Understanding the Legal Process and Implications
What charges might the suspect face?
While specific charges have not been disclosed, the suspect is likely to face serious charges related to homicide, given the nature of the crime.
How is femicide defined in Cuba?
Femicide in Cuba is generally defined as the intentional killing of women because of their gender, often occurring in domestic settings or as a result of intimate partner violence.
What role does OGAT play in tracking femicides?
The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) actively tracks and reports cases of femicide in Cuba, using data from various sources to raise awareness and advocate for policy changes.