The Cuban musician Ismael González Almeida, a guitarist and tres player for the band Familia Son, was tragically killed in a shooting in Cancun, Mexico, on Monday night. The incident occurred outside a venue where the group had just performed, when armed individuals in a truck opened fire. Several bullets struck the young musician, resulting in his death, according to preliminary reports on social media.
González, 32, originally from Ciego de Ávila, was a member of the family band founded by his father, saxophonist Ismael González Román. The band also includes his stepmother Neysuk Mateo Ferrer and his siblings Yisel, Legna Helen, and Carlos César, all professional musicians.
The young musician had emigrated to Mexico with his family and lived in the state of Quintana Roo, where Familia Son performed at various nightclubs. As of the publication of this article, the motives behind the attack remain unclear, but the loss has undeniably devastated his family.
His father expressed his eternal love for his son in a heartfelt Facebook post: "We love you, my son, forever," accompanied by an image of a guitar, the instrument González played.
On behalf of Familia Son, Mateo conveyed a heartfelt message to friends, acquaintances, and the band's audience: "With broken hearts, we wanted to thank each and every family member, friend, acquaintance, and supporter who has shown love and respect for our dear Ismaelito. Amid so much pain, we are proud to know that he sowed love and left his mark on many people with his joy and his songs. That is precisely what we want everyone who knew him to remember."
Tragic Incident
Regarding the crime that took his loved one's life, Mateo stated, "It was just a very unfortunate and unexpected event, one of the thousands and millions of random occurrences in this turbulent world, and it happened to us, sadly." He added, "We will never let his guitar and tres remain silent..."
"We love you, son, may God keep you in the book of life. It will never be the same without you, the best and most beloved tres player of Familia Son, but you are with us forever," were the emotional words that concluded the message directed at González.
Thousands of condolence messages from family, friends, acquaintances, and fans of the musician have flooded social media, mourning his untimely death.
The family also announced that they have received support from the company Musicavila in Ciego de Ávila, the Institute of Music, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Cuban Embassy in Mexico to carry out "all the necessary procedures involved in a process like this." They emphasized that the group has not solicited monetary assistance on any digital platform for the repatriation of González's ashes to Cuba, and that all support received has been "direct and spontaneous."
In a statement released Wednesday on its official Facebook page, the Cuban embassy reported that, alongside the Ministry of Culture and the Consulate in Cancun, they "remain in communication with the family of the member of the musical group 'Familia Son,' who passed away in Cancun." The statement concluded, "We are carrying out consular procedures to fulfill the family's wish to transport his ashes to Cuba."
FAQs on the Shooting of Ismael González Almeida
To address common queries and provide more information about the tragic incident involving Ismael González Almeida, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
What were the circumstances surrounding the shooting?
The shooting occurred outside a venue in Cancun where Familia Son had just performed. Armed individuals in a truck fired multiple shots, some of which hit Ismael González Almeida, resulting in his death.
Who was Ismael González Almeida?
Ismael González Almeida was a 32-year-old Cuban musician, a guitarist and tres player for the band Familia Son. He was originally from Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, and had emigrated to Mexico with his family.
Has the motive behind the shooting been determined?
As of now, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and authorities are still investigating the incident.
How is the family coping with the loss?
The family is devastated by the loss but has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from friends, acquaintances, and fans. They are also receiving assistance from various organizations to repatriate González's ashes to Cuba.