Two men were arrested by the police in Colón, Matanzas, accused of being the perpetrators of the homicide of 17-year-old Dilan Alejandro Lima León, a crime that has caused pain and indignation in the Matanzas community.
The news was announced this Wednesday by the Facebook profile “Con Todos La Victoria” of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), with a note that revealed the identity of the detainees and their photos with pixelated faces, but did not mention the name of the victim of the heinous act that occurred on December 26.
The confirmation that these are the alleged killers of Dilan Alejandro was given by acquaintances in the comments on the post. The Cuban activist Irma Lidia Broek had previously shared the photo of one of the individuals involved.
The arrested individuals are Alexis Michel Pérez Montalvo and Michael Güara Montalvo, both with criminal records, according to information from "Con Todos La Victoria." Pérez has a criminal history for theft and livestock slaughter, while Güara has a record for assault and threats.
Both will now face justice for a crime of extreme gravity, but even if they are found guilty, neither they nor anyone else will bring Dilan Alejandro back to life or provide comfort to his mother and other relatives.
According to the information published by the official profile, it was an altercation that "ended in the worst way," and after the fight, both individuals were detained as "responsible for causing serious injuries that unfortunately resulted in the loss of a life."
The information indicated that the victim died at the Mario Muñoz Monroe hospital while receiving medical care.
The official version also omits essential details of the crime that have emerged in recent hours.
Witnesses and close acquaintances of Dilan Alejandro revealed that the teenager had intervened to stop a fight involving one of his cousins. When the altercation seemed to have concluded and everyone had left, the young man stayed a little longer at the scene to grab a bite to eat before heading back home.
However, several individuals returned armed with knives and attacked him by surprise, inflicting multiple stab wounds. One of these pierced a lung and caused his death. Initial reports stated that he died on the spot, which contradicts the official report.
However, the teenager's aunt, identified as Katia García Martínez, stated in the post that her nephew died at the site where he was attacked and did not receive any first aid or medical attention.
"Those murderers ended the life of an innocent just as he was starting to live... Full of light and life, a model child, an exemplary student, very much loved by all his friends and especially his family... we ask for justice because they knew exactly what they were doing. My nephew didn't even have the chance to receive first aid or medical attention because he was stabbed in such a way that he died instantly. Therefore, citizens like them should not roam the streets of this country... We all hope for the harshest of sentences," he expressed.
Mourning and outrage in Matanzas
Dilan Alejandro Lima León, whom family and friends called “Chabiakan,” was the only son of a mother who dedicated herself, alone, to raising him.
Neighbors and acquaintances describe him as a respectful, diligent, and kind-hearted young man. "He was an exemplary youth; he didn't get involved with anyone," they stated on social media.
The brutal attack that unjustly cut short the life of the teenager has sparked a wave of outrage in Colón and in the province of Matanzas, as expressed by hundreds of people on social media.
In the midst of pain, the community is demanding justice. "This town is hurting. Those responsible must pay for what they did," wrote a woman on Facebook.
The murder of Dilan Alejandro adds to a growing list of violent events in various Cuban provinces, where young people have lost their lives in fights or knife attacks.
Independent organizations and Cuban activists report that the lack of opportunities, social decline, and impunity foster and intensify violence and such crimes.
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