A man with a background in the special forces of the Ministry of the Interior died violently this Wednesday near the Paseo de Martí and Calvario Street, in Santiago de Cuba, according to a post by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
The victim was identified as Reinier Enrique Brown Ramos, known in some circles by the nickname "Monona."
A witness reported that he was walking along Paseo de Martí when he heard a gunshot and saw people running. Upon reaching the corner with Calvario, he found the man lying in the street while two individuals walked away from the scene "as if nothing had happened"; one of them was wearing a helmet. According to the same witness, "the cars did not want to stop to take him to the doctor."
People who claim to have known Brown assert that he was part of the Black Berets, the popular name for the National Special Brigade (BEN), the special troops of MININT in Santiago de Cuba. The BEN was sanctioned in July 2021 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Global Magnitsky regime for its role in the repression of the protests on July 11th.
According to these same sources, Brown's path eventually led to crime. Journalist Mayeta Labrada summarizes it this way: "A man trained by the system itself to impose order ended up, according to these testimonies, on the other side of the law."
Unverified sources attribute to him several prison sentences, a background involving a violent incident, alleged abuse against minors, and possible links to the sale of illegal substances.
None of these accusations has independent documentary confirmation. A former schoolmate from Camilo Cienfuegos Secondary School estimates his age to be around 42 or 43 years, a detail that has not been confirmed either.
There were also testimonies that Brown may have regained his freedom just over a year ago through a health-related parole, although there is no documentation to support this.
The reactions on social media present a divided picture. While some acquaintances wrote, "I can't believe it, brother," "rest in peace, champion," or "just a few hours ago we were together," others allude to past conflicts and assert that several young people were afraid of him. An acquaintance recounted that they had worked together for several hours just the morning before.
As of the time of publication, the Cuban authorities have not issued any official information regarding the incident, nor has the identity of the alleged assailants or the motive for the attack been confirmed.
Crime occurs against a backdrop of ongoing deterioration of security in the province. In 2026 alone, several homicides have been reported in Santiago: a 62-year-old man stabbed during the theft of his electric tricycle on Avenida Las Américas, a 23-year-old young man murdered in San Luis that same month, and reports of systematic nighttime assaults in various neighborhoods of the city.
The Cuban Observatory of Citizens' Audits recorded 2,833 verified crimes in Cuba during 2025, with Santiago being the fourth most affected province, totaling 323 cases.
"None of a person's criminal history, personal conflicts, or past behavior justifies taking a human life," wrote Mayeta Labrada. "In a society where violence continues to claim lives, justice cannot be left in the hands of those who choose to settle scores in the street."
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