A video shared on social media in recent hours shows the dramatic moment when a young man wounded by gunfire is assisted by several protesters during the demonstrations that took place on Friday night in the municipality of Morón, in Ciego de Ávila.
In the images, captured amid the tension of the protests, several people can be seen carrying the boy—who according to some reports may be underage—and quickly lifting him onto a motorcycle to take him for medical assistance.
Around him, desperate screams can be heard from those witnessing the scene, while some call for help for the injured person.
"Images of the gunshot victim during the protests in Morón... there are reports indicating that he is a minor. Awaiting confirmation," wrote activist Magdiel Castro alongside the images on X.
The reports about the incident were shared by independent journalist José Raúl Gallego, who stated on his Facebook profile that the young man had allegedly been shot by a police officer during the clashes that occurred in the city.
According to the report, the shot struck the boy in the thigh while he was near a lit campfire in front of the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), one of the locations where the demonstrations took place.
Gallego himself had reported minutes earlier that the local PCC headquarters was set on fire amid the protests.
According to their reports, several bicycles used by police officers were also burned during the riots.
The reports circulated on social media also indicate that special forces deployed in the area may have unleashed dogs against the protesters in order to disperse the gathering.
The journalist also stated that among the participants in the protest were children and teenagers, which heightens the concern over the violence recorded during the events.
So far, the Cuban authorities have not issued an official statement regarding what happened or the health condition of the injured young man.
The protests in Morón are occurring amidst growing social discontent due to prolonged power outages, food shortages, and the decline in living conditions in the country.
In recent hours, numerous videos have circulated on social media where chants of “Freedom!” and the sound of pots and pans can be heard as groups of residents walked through the streets of the municipality.
Other reports disseminated by activists indicate that, after the initial clashes, the demonstration moved towards the city's police station, in a day of tension that reflects the rise of nighttime protests in various parts of Cuba.
Meanwhile, the country's authorities continue to withhold public information regarding these incidents, in a context where citizen reports of repression during protests driven by the economic and energy crisis facing the island are increasing.
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