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Liester Iván Cruz Mesa, a 40-year-old Cuban well-known in the Tampa Bay community, passed away last Sunday after being struck by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene while he was working as a security guard at a nightclub in the city.
According to WFLA/TampaHoy, officers from the Tampa Police Department responded shortly after 5:00 a.m. to reports of a man being struck near the intersection of N. Armenia Avenue and E. Hamilton Avenue. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Cruz Mesa was originally from Pinar del Río and left behind three children: a 13-year-old daughter, an 11-year-old daughter, and an 11-year-old son.
Family and friends described him as a man of endearing character: "Liester was known for his charismatic personality, his noble heart, and his protective nature. He was always willing to help others and had a special way of making those around him feel appreciated, safe, and welcomed."
The news shocked the Cuban community in Tampa, which expressed its sorrow on social media.
Luismy González, a friend of Cruz Mesa, posted a message on Facebook calling for solidarity and encouraging reflection: "My condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues in security who risk their lives every weekend in the world of nightclubs. We need to raise awareness because this cannot continue happening."
González also noted that some of Liester's children are in Cuba, and he called on the community to donate to support them.
In the wake of the loss, a family friend, Bárbaro Echevarría, organized a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, titled "For Liester & His Children — Por Liester y Sus Hijos," with a goal of $30,000 to cover funeral expenses and provide support for the minors. At the time of publication, the campaign had raised $6,206 from 106 donors.
The case is not the first to shake the Cuban community in the United States. In February of this year, Alexander Bandera, a 31-year-old Cuban, was killed while working as a security guard in Houston, Texas, during a robbery, an incident that also caused significant shock.
The Tampa Police Department continues to investigate the hit-and-run incident under report number 26-336350 and is seeking the driver of the vehicle to determine the circumstances of the accident. Authorities are asking anyone with information to call 813-231-6130.
"May the memory of Liester live on forever in the love he gave, in the lives he touched, and in the family he loved so dearly," concludes the campaign organized by his loved ones.
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