
Violence struck Havana again. Hayden Abel Caballero and Keller Sandor Pino Griñán, both 19 years old, died after being attacked in Hanói Park, located in Zone 6 of Alamar, in the municipality of Habana del Este, according to reports that circulated on social media this Wednesday.
So far, the Cuban authorities have not officially reported on the case or provided details about what happened.
The crime reporter Niover Licea, who runs the page NiO Reporting a Crime, was the first to identify the victims. Later, the Facebook group Crimes in Cuba, administered by Irma Lidia Broek, indicated that the incident might involve a suspected settling of accounts. However, other reports suggest it could be a violent robbery, leaving the circumstances of the crime still unclear.
Witnesses reported that agents from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) remained at the scene processing the area for several hours, although no official statement has been issued so far.
There were also reports circulating on social media that a third person was seriously injured and was taken to the Naval Hospital. However, that information has not been independently confirmed.
"Two lives full of dreams"
The death of the two young people has caused deep shock among family members, friends, and neighbors in Alamar.
A relative of Hayden shared a message on Facebook that reflects the pain felt by both families.
"Two lives full of dreams that did not deserve such a painful ending."
In the same post, he requested respect for the victims and asked users and media outlets not to share explicit photographs or videos of the crime.
Those who knew Hayden and Keller described them as quiet, hardworking young men with no history of conflict.
"They were two simple teenage boys, in the prime of life; two cheerful kids like any young person their age," wrote someone close to the victims.
Another neighbor stated that neither of the two had any issues with those who allegedly participated in the attack.
"Neither those who killed had problems with them, nor did the victims," he commented.
Residents report neglect and insecurity
Upon learning of the tragedy, numerous residents pointed out that Hanoi Park and its surroundings have long become one of the most dangerous areas of Alamar, especially at night.
"Those who live in Alamar know that Hanói is a wolf's mouth," wrote a user, while others reported the low police presence and the lack of measures to prevent violent incidents.
The criticism also extended to the authorities for their official silence and the growing sense of insecurity that, according to citizens' reports, is experienced in many neighborhoods of the capital.
A violence that continues to rise
The murder of Hayden and Keller adds to a series of violent incidents recorded in Cuba over the past few months.
On July 3rd, a 17-year-old teenager was stabbed to death in La Güinera, in Arroyo Naranjo, during an attack in which she was not even the target of the assailants.
In June, another 17-year-old girl died in Cárdenas, Matanzas, after a fight with a 14-year-old girl. Months earlier, in March, two young men died during a knife fight in Jagüey Grande, also in that province.
The figures reflect the decline in public safety on the island. The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory (OCAC) documented 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, a 115% increase compared to 2024 and a 337% rise compared to 2023.
Additionally, a report released in June raised concerns about the presence of youth gangs in most neighborhoods of Havana, a phenomenon that is increasingly worrying the population.
While family and friends bid farewell to Hayden Abel Caballero and Keller Sandor Pino Griñán, Miguel Díaz-Canel's government remains silent on the case, despite the growing outrage it has sparked on social media and among the residents of Alamar.
Related videos:
Filed under: