Child loses an eye after being shot at a shooting range in Ciego de Ávila

An 11-year-old boy lost his right eye after accidentally being shot with a pellet shotgun while at a private shooting range in the municipality of Ciro Redondo, Ciego de Ávila province, Cuba.

The incident occurred last Sunday, March 9, when the minor, identified as Yoinel López, went out to play with other children and teenagers near his home. Without his mother's permission, the young boy made his way to the private shooting range located in the same community, according to journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook.

Moments later, as the child's mother was getting ready to go out and look for him, the owners of the place arrived with Yoinel injured.

According to the authorities at the shooting range, a 15-year-old teenager accidentally shot a child with a pellet gun, hitting him in the right eye.

A relative of the minor reported, on the condition of anonymity, that the owners of the place allowed access to the field despite the involvement of small children.

It was also stated that the owner's wife admitted to having left the children alone for a moment, during which the incident occurred.

After the shooting, the parents quickly took the child to the local hospital, from where he was urgently transferred to the Pediatric Hospital of Sancti Spíritus due to the severity of his injury.

There, the doctors proceeded to operate on the minor, removing the pearl lodged in his eye, but they were unable to save his vision and had to completely remove the eye, Mayeta reported.

The child's family clarified that they do not wish for the teenager to be imprisoned, but they demand that the owners of the shooting range be held legally accountable for allowing minors to access a highly dangerous area.

Additionally, they requested a lifetime compensation to account for the damages caused to the minor.

The police authorities arrested the 15-year-old teenager, who is being held in a specialized unit for minors under investigation.

According to his statement, he had aimed at a cat when the child accidentally crossed his line of fire, and witnesses also indicate that the teenager remains deeply affected by the incident.

Yoinel, who is enrolled at "Mártires del Moncada" school and also has a congenital heart defect (Atrial Septal Defect, ASD), is stable after learning that he will receive an eye implant at the Santa Clara Hospital in the coming weeks.

In recent months, several domestic accidents and unexpected situations have put the lives of children in Cuba at risk, leading to urgent medical interventions and hospitalizations.

One of the most recent cases occurred in April 2024, when a two-year-old boy in Ciego de Ávila was saved after inhaling a foreign object, which endangered his life and required prompt medical intervention.

Similarly, in March of that same year, a baby in Santiago de Cuba had to undergo emergency surgery after swallowing a pin that got lodged in their throat, fortunately achieving a stable recovery.

These cases add to other serious accidents that have occurred on the island. Recently, a one-year-old girl survived after spending 48 hours with a battery in her stomach, an incident that raised significant medical concerns.

Also in January, doctors managed to save a child after he inhaled a watch part, thus preventing a fatal outcome.

These events highlight the need for greater vigilance at home and in public spaces to prevent accidents that could jeopardize the health and lives of children.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Shooting Range Incident in Ciego de Ávila