A Cuban attempts to murder his partner in Hialeah: What is known about the incident?

The accused, Alian Sabala ArgüellesPhoto © Collage YoTube/Screenshot-Telemundo 51

A 32-year-old Cuban identified as Alian Sabala Argüelles was arrested on Monday by the Hialeah Police and faces charges of attempted premeditated murder and assault in the context of domestic violence, after his partner accused him of hitting her and pointing a firearm at her.

According to the affidavit of arrest -cited by Telemundo 51- the events took place during a dispute that occurred in the early hours of June 22.

The incident occurred around three in the morning when the victim, with whom Argüelles had a relationship for approximately six years, tried to end the relationship.

At that moment, the accused reacted with violence: he repeatedly punched her, pulled out a black weapon, placed the barrel against the woman’s head, and pulled the trigger.

Fortunately, the discharge did not occur due to a mechanical failure: a cartridge was stuck in the weapon's ejection port.

The victim seized the moment when Argüelles was trying to fix the mistake to escape and take refuge in her grandmother's apartment, located just a few doors away.

The escape and the subsequent harassment

Later, a friend picked up the woman and took her to Ocala.

The witness testified before the authorities that she observed recent bruises on various parts of the victim's body, and that the victim was behaving desperately, fearful of the possibility of being found.

According to the investigation, Argüelles managed to find her in Ocala and attempted to force her into a vehicle at gunpoint, an incident that was also reported to the local police.

The victim explained to the authorities that she endured the alleged abuse for a time because she feared going to the police.

The arrest and what they found

On July 20th, a license plate reader detected a Hyundai Tucson linked to the accused in Hialeah, allowing agents to locate him and proceed with his arrest.

During the registration, the officials found in his possession a purple and black gun, loaded with eight bullets, whose serial number was listed as lost in police records.

Argüelles was taken to the Hialeah Police headquarters for an interview, where he denied hitting the woman and pointing a weapon at her.

Subsequently, he was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight (TGK) Correctional Center, where he remains while the judicial process unfolds.

The investigation is based on the statements of the victim and the witness, as well as on videos of the injuries that the woman provided to the detectives.

The police's message to immigrant victims

Eddy Rodríguez, spokesperson for the Hialeah Police, described the outcome with relief: “Thank God the weapon malfunctioned.”

At the same time, he took the opportunity to send a direct message to immigrant victims who are afraid to report their situation due to their immigration status.

"There is no reason for them to be afraid of the police. Our job is not to enforce immigration law. Our job is to protect them, to ensure their well-being," stated the spokesperson.

A pattern that repeats in Miami-Dade

This case adds to a series of domestic violence incidents involving Cuban men in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area over the past few months.

Recently, the case of Leisnier Mauri García in Little Havana made headlines, as he was accused of stabbing his partner 34 times when she informed him that she wanted to end the relationship.

The victim of that case, Heydi Morales, broke her silence on July 15 and recounted how her son saved her life by applying pressure to her wounds and calling the police: “I have to survive, I have two kids,” she stated.

In October 2024, Pedro Núñez, a 47-year-old Cuban, was arrested in Kendall, charged with firing multiple times at his ex-wife.

Domestic violence is an underreported phenomenon in immigrant communities, partly due to fears of immigration consequences, a pattern that authorities in Hialeah are seeking to reverse.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.