A Cuban father who had arrived in the United States less than a year ago was murdered this Sunday by a man, also of Cuban nationality, who shot him directly in the chest when he opened the door of his home in Houston, Texas.
The victim is Ediesky Piñeiro, 34 years old and the father of two young girls, and his aggressor has been identified as Andrés Fernández de la Paz, 36, according to police reports cited by the channel Univision 45.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of Fernández this Monday on the charge of murder. According to news reports, he was located and apprehended in the afternoon, near Rushing Creek Lane, in Katy.
According to the Houston Police Department, around 4:40 p.m. on April 27, a shooting was reported at a residence located at 11200 Whittingham Lane, near Longcommon Drive, in the southwest part of the city.
The murder was captured by a surveillance camera. The video shows the moment when Fernández walks down a hallway toward the house, arrives at the door, supposedly gestures to someone through a window, pulls out a weapon from his shorts, and when the door opens, fires directly at the victim.
The camera's clock reads 4:35 PM, and desperate screams can be heard from inside the home as the attacker retreats. However, after just a few steps, he returns, kicks the door—apparently intending to break in and continue shooting—and when he can't open it, he runs away, jumps into a purple Maserati, and flees the scene.
When the officers arrived at the house, they found Piñeiro with a gunshot wound to the chest. Immediately, he was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The homicide detective Dustin Davis told Univision 45 that the victim's wife was inside the house at the time of the shooting, but she emerged unharmed.
Ernesto Navarro, who knew Piñeiro and was present when the police arrived, was the one who confirmed that the victim had been residing in the U.S. for less than a year and that the suspect was said to have been in a relationship with his wife's sister.
He also revealed that, during the tragic event, both their wives and their two young daughters were in the house. "May he be captured and justice be served," Navarro then requested.
According to social media, both Piñeiro and his killer are originally from Manzanillo, in the province of Granma.
Frequently asked questions about the murder of a Cuban in Houston
Who was the victim of the murder in Houston?
The victim of the murder in Houston was Ediesky Piñeiro, a 34-year-old Cuban and father of two young girls. He had arrived in the United States less than a year before being killed in his home.
Who is the suspect in the murder of Ediesky Piñeiro?
The suspect in the murder is Andrés Fernández de la Paz, 36 years old, also of Cuban nationality and supposedly the former partner of the sister of Piñeiro's wife, according to police reports.
How did the murder of Ediesky Piñeiro occur?
The murder occurred when Fernández de la Paz shot directly at Piñeiro's chest after he opened the door of his house. The attack was captured by a surveillance camera.
What was the community's reaction to the murder in Houston?
The community has expressed dismay and called for justice. The murder of Ediesky Piñeiro has been a devastating blow for his family and friends, especially since his daughters and wife were at home during the attack.
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