Roberto Carlos Almaguer Pupo sustained serious injuries, including a lung injury, after allegedly being attacked by two men during a traffic dispute in the city of Holguín. The confrontation reportedly started when he asked for a tricycle, parked in the middle of the street, to move.
The incident was shared on Facebook on Tuesday by Ernesto Almaguer Díaz, who identified the victim as his cousin and called for public assistance in finding those responsible.
According to his account, the altercation took place on Sunday around noon at the intersection of Carralero Street and Los Libertadores Avenue in Holguín.
Almaguer described how his cousin was driving a truck when he encountered a turquoise-green tricycle with a blue tarp, parked obstructively in the road.
The truck driver honked to request that the tricycle clear the path, but the occupants initially did not respond. After a second honk, they moved the vehicle, allowing the truck to pass.
However, as he drove past the tricycle, the driver and his passenger allegedly struck the truck's hood forcefully.
The victim drove a few meters forward and stopped to check for any damage to his vehicle. It was then, according to the report, that the two men approached and assaulted him.
"Two men against just one," the relative noted, emphasizing that both were involved in the attack.
Almaguer stated that his cousin suffered a severe blow to the cheekbone, necessitating stitches and reconstruction. He also reported that his cousin was stabbed with a sharp object on the left side of the chest.
According to the medical details Almaguer shared, the injury pierced his cousin’s lung, causing a pneumothorax, a condition where air accumulates between the lung and the chest wall, potentially hindering breathing.
The family member also mentioned the wound was perilously close to the heart, resulting in significant blood loss, which he believed put his cousin’s life at risk.
The tricycle driver was described as a middle-aged man of sturdy build, wearing green military-style pants.
The passenger was reportedly wearing blue denim jeans, as recalled by the victim.
Both men were noted to have been drinking at an establishment near Carralero Street and Los Libertadores Avenue.
Almaguer urged anyone who witnessed the incident or could provide information about the two men to contact him discreetly.
The post did not clarify whether the alleged assailants have been identified by the police, if a formal complaint has been lodged with authorities, or the current medical condition of the truck driver. There has been no public statement from the accused individuals.
Nonetheless, a comment under the post mentioned someone passing by the scene: "But it had already happened, I only saw officers at the location," confirming that the authorities are aware of the events.
This incident comes just weeks after Holguín residents raised alarm about projectile attacks on people sheltering in doorways during power outages.
In that earlier complaint, published in October, a resident recounted groups of youths throwing rebar fragments using slingshots and demanded a police response.
Key Questions About the Holguín Assault Incident
What injuries did Roberto Carlos Almaguer Pupo sustain?
He suffered a severe cheekbone injury requiring stitches and reconstruction, and a lung injury caused by a stabbing, leading to a pneumothorax.
Where did the altercation occur?
The incident took place at the intersection of Carralero Street and Los Libertadores Avenue in Holguín.
Have the alleged attackers been identified by authorities?
The report does not specify if the attackers have been identified by the police or if a formal complaint has been filed.