Authorities in Matanzas have apprehended a man accused of barging into a home in Las Marías, Limonar municipality, and firing multiple shots at a couple using a spearfishing gun. This information was revealed by the Facebook page "Con Todos la Victoria," which is associated with the Ministry of the Interior in that province.
The alleged assailant, identified by the source as Jordán C. P., reportedly entered the residence without uttering a word. Motivated by "personal issues he had been carrying," according to the post, he discharged the weapon repeatedly at the woman and her husband.
However, the shooter missed, and no injuries were reported.
"Death bypassed them that night: neither of the two was harmed," the official source noted.
The Unusual Weapon and Alarming Background
In Cuba, spearfishing guns are regulated as weapons with limited use, permitted only in designated maritime areas. Using such a weapon for assault constitutes an aggravating factor under the Penal Code effective since November 2022.
The accused's choice of this type of weapon—more accessible than conventional firearms on the island—highlights the improvisation of lethal means amid scarcity and weakening arms control.
The official profile emphasized that the individual has a criminal record that includes assault, theft, burglary, and home invasion, yet remained free before the incident. Despite not injuring anyone, the alleged perpetrator was detained, and his past offenses are expected to influence the court's sentencing.
Public Outcry and Distrust in the Justice System
The incident sparked a wave of reactions online. Many comments called for stringent punishments: "At least 30 years," "Life sentence," and "ZERO TOLERANCE," demanded several users.
Another focus of anger was the judicial system itself. "Why is he out on the streets causing harm?" one commenter questioned, pointing out the accused's freedom despite his extensive criminal record.
Several users sarcastically suggested he might receive a light sentence and soon return to the streets, highlighting widespread distrust in the effectiveness of Cuba's penal sanctions.
Matanzas: A Hotspot for Crime in Cuba
The incident took place in a municipality and province notorious for criminal violence in the country. In the same area of Limonar, a man was shot dead in mid-August in the rural zone of La Ferte, an event that shocked the local community.
Provincially, Matanzas topped the charts for murders, assaults, and robberies in Cuba for the first time in 2026, according to the Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit (OCAC). The public security report for the first half of the year recorded 18 murders, 21 assaults, and 155 robberies in the province—26% of the national total—surpassing Havana, which had led for years.
Nationally, homicides in Cuba rose by 42.9% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, increasing from 63 to 90 cases, while fatalities climbed from 69 to 102. The lethality rate nearly doubled, from 5.23 to 10.35 deaths per 100 crimes. "In just one year, the documented crime lethality increased by 97.9%: it practically doubled," warned the OCAC.
Understanding Crime in Matanzas
What type of weapon was used in the Matanzas incident?
The suspect used a spearfishing gun, which is regulated in Cuba as a weapon permitted only in authorized maritime areas.
Why did the incident in Matanzas cause public outrage?
The public was outraged due to the suspect's extensive criminal record and the perceived ineffectiveness of the justice system, which allowed him to remain free despite his history of offenses.
How has crime in Matanzas compared to Havana?
In 2026, Matanzas surpassed Havana for the first time in terms of murders, assaults, and robberies, accounting for 26% of the national total.