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A Cuban citizen, identified as Pedro Alexander Frometa Slonchak, 34 years old, died on Sunday in Georgetown, Guyana, after being shot multiple times by a security guard inside a supermarket, local media reported.
The incident occurred around 9:47 a.m. at the supermarket Real Value, located at the intersection of Thomas and Church streets in the Guyanese capital, according to a report by News Source Guyana.
The person responsible, Kelvin Belgrave, 25 years old, worked for the KGM Security Service and was arrested shortly after the incident.
According to a police report cited by iNewsGuyana, the security officer stated that he observed the victim entering and exiting the establishment repeatedly and decided to approach to ask if there was any problem.
According to his statement, at that moment the Cuban grabbed him and a fight ensued, during which he wielded a knife.
Belgrave added that he managed to disarm Frometa Slonchak and stabbed him in the right shoulder and in the head. Immediately afterward, he took out his service pistol and fired six times, hitting the victim four times, once in the chest, twice in the abdomen, and once in the knee. The Cuban fell to the ground and died at the scene before emergency services arrived.
The Guyana Police stated that they have recordings from the surveillance cameras inside the supermarket that could show the incident.
The guard, a resident of the Sophia community, remains in custody while the investigation continues.
This event has caused shock among the Cuban community residing in Guyana, where many migrants seek a better life away from the island, but face contexts of insecurity and violence.
In April of this year, José Aurelio Ramírez, a 54-year-old Cuban, was fatally stabbed in the Melanie Market Street area. The police arrested the main suspects, Tyrese Blair, an 18-year-old, and Omar Clayton Bacchus, 21 years old.
Months earlier, in October 2024, the young teacher from Tunera, Yuni Zamora Castro, 25 years old, was murdered in the locality of Kitty, allegedly by her partner, who took his own life after the crime.
Frequently asked questions about violence against Cubans in Guyana
What happened in the supermarket in Guyana with the Cuban citizen?
A Cuban citizen, Pedro Alexander Frometa Slonchak, was shot and killed by a security guard in a supermarket in Georgetown, Guyana. The guard, Kelvin Belgrave, claimed that Frometa had attacked him with a knife before he fired in self-defense.
Who is responsible for the shooting at the supermarket in Guyana?
The person responsible for the shooting is Kelvin Belgrave, a 25-year-old security guard who worked for KGM Security Service. Belgrave was arrested after the incident and is in custody while the investigation is ongoing.
How has this incident affected the Cuban community in Guyana?
This fact has caused shock among the Cuban community in Guyana, where migrants face contexts of insecurity and violence. The death of Frometa Slonchak adds to other violent incidents that have affected Cubans in the country, highlighting the vulnerability of this community in their search for better living conditions outside of Cuba.
What other violent incidents have recently affected Cubans in Guyana?
Additionally, in the case of Frometa Slonchak, other Cubans have been victims of violence in Guyana. In April, José Aurelio Ramírez was stabbed to death, and in May, Davely Morales was killed by her stepfather in a violent attack that also left her mother severely injured. These incidents reveal a troubling pattern of violence against the Cuban community in the country.
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