A man identified as Yaudier Aguilera Monert, described as a Cuban-American linked to the Los Lazos neighborhood, was arrested following a shooting at the "Los Hermanos" paladar, located in the Floro Pérez area, in the municipality of Gibara, province of Holguín, during the early hours of Sunday, July 12.
The incident, initially reported by the independent platform 'Nio Reportando un Crimen' and later confirmed by the Facebook profile 'Cazador Cazado' —linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT)— left at least three people injured and a minor transferred to a pediatric hospital.
According to the version reported by 'Cazador Cazado', a page that acts as a tactical spokesperson for the MININT in Holguín using a colloquial tone, everything began with a disagreement between two acquaintances inside the establishment.
The security guard intervened to remove them from the establishment and ended up being one of the main affected parties.
At that moment, Aguilera Monert reportedly drew a revolver—apparently a Colt .38—and fired three shots, according to that official source. The independent platform 'Nio Reportando un Crimen' initially reported around six shots, while Periódico Cubano mentioned nearly eight shots with a pellet gun; none of these figures have been officially confirmed.
The three injured individuals have been identified as Luis Raidel Correoso, Alexander Espronceda, and Brayan Carlos Escalona.
Correoso, who worked as a security guard at the establishment, was shot in the neck and had to undergo surgery. According to testimonies collected by 'Nio Reportando un Crimen', he was out of danger although he remained hospitalized.
Espronceda suffered pellet wounds and, after receiving medical attention, was already at home. The condition of Escalona was not detailed in the available reports.
A minor who was shopping in the establishment at the time of the incident was also affected and was taken to a pediatric center. No details about their identity or the severity of their injuries have been reported.
A police officer who lived across from the establishment intervened during the altercation and allegedly fired two shots in the air. Aguilera Monert tried to flee toward a nearby banana plantation but was captured and taken into custody.
The confirmation of the suspect's name comes exclusively from 'Cazador Cazado', an official profile that does not constitute a formal statement from MININT. On Facebook, the user identified as Yandier Aguilera (Yaudier Aguilera Monert) states that they reside in Miami and are originally from Holguín.
For its part, the platform 'Nio Reporting a Crime' warned that "some elements of the narrative disseminated by the official page contrast with versions received directly by our platform," and noted that they continued to verify the sequence of events.
The case adds to a series of incidents involving Cuban-Americans on the island. In April 2026, the repatriated Cuban-American Leonel García Álvarez was murdered in Mayabeque at the age of 72, after returning to Cuba to retire.
Before, businessman Frank Cuspinera Medina, founder of Diplomarket, was arrested in June 2024 and remained in preventive detention for over a year without a final trial. These cases illustrate the risks faced by those who return to the island, whether as investors, tourists, or repatriated individuals.
The use of a revolver in a nighttime public establishment is unusual in Cuba, where civilian gun ownership is severely restricted. This incident also occurs in a context of increasing violence on the island, where thefts increased by 115% in 2025, according to the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory.
As of this Tuesday, the MININT had not issued any official statement regarding the shooting, the final number of injuries, or the formal charges the detainee would face.
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