The death under controversial circumstances of a young man identified as Luis Manuel Perdomo -known to his neighbors as "Luisito El Calvo"- has sparked a wave of outrage and questions on social media following his passing during a botched police intervention in the Playa municipality of Havana.
According to a report published by the news portal La Tijera, the incident occurred on the roof of the young man's house, located at 70 between 13 and 15, when his mother called the police intending to address an episode of emotional disturbance involving the young man.
According to witnesses, “the police started shouting at him” and then “they went after him, [they] struck him with a 'heavy blow' and blocked him with a severe hit to the head that caused his death right on the rooftop.”
Videos recorded by a neighbor captured the moment the young man was confronted by authorities while on the rooftop; another clip showed what appeared to be agents trying to subdue him.
Finally, another small fragment shows the body of the young man covered with what appears to be a sheet, but being on the rooftop would confirm that he did not die as a result of a fall from a high floor.
Versions found and a devastated mother
The publication states that the young man was neither under the influence of drugs nor attempted to jump from a height.
"He was simply murdered by the hitmen of the PNR," stated La Tijera, who also challenged the defenders of the government: "Now I want the cyberclarias to present this evidence and demand justice for the murder of Luisito."
The decision of her mother to call the police has been a subject of intense debate.
In the comments section of the post, some users questioned, “Why did the mother call the police if he wasn’t high or violent?” while others empathized with her possible desperation: “Maybe she did it to prevent him from jumping from a high place.”
Among the comments, some demand justice, deeming the incident as "another impune crime" and questioning the training of the officers to handle crisis situations: "These police officers know nothing about self-defense... I don’t think it’s necessary to apply 'strikes' if there are immobilization techniques.", expressed a user.
Voices also emerged calling for caution and a thorough investigation before passing judgment.
“If the boy was agitated and during the process of restraining him he received a blow and died, that is not murder, it is involuntary manslaughter”, argued another user.
A user summarized the general sentiment with a harsh critique: “The police in Cuba commit worse crimes and it's not just one, they have a record.”
A source close to the family reported that the young man was recovering from a chemical addiction.
“I learned about him through his father, who called me this morning with the news. He told me that he hadn't taken necessary medications for his recovery from the so-called ‘Kimiko’, that drug so common among young Cubans.”
Additionally, many users drew parallels with emblematic cases such as that of George Floyd in the U.S., suggesting a double standard from the Cuban regime: “In Cuba, they called for justice for Floyd, but here they remain silent in the face of similar cases.”
Citizen demand: That the tragic incident does not go unpunished
The demands on social media converge on a call for transparency, justice, and institutional accountability.
The pain of losing Luis Manuel is mingled with the frustration of a community that fears that, once again, "nothing will happen."
As of the writing of this note, there is no detailed official version of what happened, and it is possible that there may never be one.
The only confirmed fact is that, unfortunately, a young Cuban died under strange and controversial circumstances that do not reflect well on the Cuban police.
Frequently asked questions about the death of Luis Manuel Perdomo and police actions in Cuba
What happened to Luis Manuel Perdomo in Havana?
Luis Manuel Perdomo died during a police intervention on the roof of his home in Havana. According to witnesses, he was violently subdued, which is believed to have caused his death. The situation has sparked outrage on social media and raised numerous questions about police actions in Cuba.
What has been the response from social media to the death of Luis Manuel Perdomo?
In social media, there has been a wave of outrage and calls for justice following the death of Luis Manuel. Users have questioned the actions of the Cuban police and have compared the case to other incidents of police abuse internationally, demanding transparency and accountability from the authorities.
How has the Cuban government reacted to the allegations of police abuse in this case?
So far, there has been no detailed official version regarding the death of Luis Manuel Perdomo from the Cuban government. State-run media has denied some accounts of the events, but has not provided a comprehensive explanation of what happened, which has increased public distrust and discontent.
What do the witnesses say about the circumstances of Luis Manuel Perdomo's death?
Witnesses of the incident claim that the police acted violently while attempting to restrain Luis Manuel, leading to his death. It is reported that the officers shouted at him and struck him on the head, resulting in a fatal outcome. These statements have been supported by video clips recorded by nearby residents.
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