His name was Usiel Quesada Florat, a 23-year-old resident of the Salomé neighborhood in Camagüey. Usiel was fatally stabbed in the back early Friday morning. At this time, it is unknown whether the attacker has been apprehended. The state-run newspaper Adelante has not reported on the incident.
According to La Hora de Cuba, Usielito Quesada was with a friend at a place known as Carpa de Jayamá, in front of the Hotel Camagüey, when he was attacked from behind with a knife. The alleged assailant reportedly resides in the San Antonio district, also in Camagüey. Usiel, who according to his girlfriend was unarmed, lost his life on the same day as his anniversary with his partner, Thalía Cárdenas. Completely devastated, she expressed her anguish over him being left alone. "Where were those who claimed to be his friends? Where were those who went out with him, who left my sweet boy alone and let him be killed?" she asked in despair.
"Usi, this post should be celebrating our anniversary and not saying goodbye to you. What a terrible anniversary gift," Thalía lamented in a Facebook post, stating that her life has been shattered because he had promised her children, and she only wanted them with him.
A neighbor of the deceased, Carmen Casas Fernández, mentioned on Facebook that she saw Usielito Quesada on Thursday night when he was on his motorcycle and advised him not to go out, warning that the streets were dangerous in Cuba.
"That same night, he stopped to chat with me for a moment on his motorcycle, and I told him, 'Why are you going out at this hour, my boy? The streets are very dangerous; that motorcycle will attract street criminals who will rob you of it. But he said, 'Don't worry, old lady, I'll be back soon; I'm just going to chat with the guys for a bit.' When I found out, it almost gave me a heart attack because we loved him dearly. He was like another son to me, and knowing he went out and then hearing about this in the morning... I couldn't believe it because it felt like a final goodbye between us last night," she wrote.
Another individual, identified on Facebook as Sandra Marrero, mourned the death of Usielito Quesada's mother’s only remaining son, Zoraida Florat.
"Oh, my God, why is life so unfair? Usielito, a respectful, sociable boy whom we saw grow up in the neighborhood, did not deserve this. It was an act of cowardice. A defenseless, unarmed boy. We demand justice. That murderer does not deserve to live. You destroyed the only son Zoraida had left, a boy with a kind heart, always there for others. Words are not enough to express such pain. Rest in peace, beautiful angel," she lamented.
Usiel's death comes a day after another young man, a 20-year-old, was found dead in a guard post at a prison in Guantánamo, where he was doing military service. Authorities are investigating whether it was a suicide or a murder. The young man was not depressed and had plans for Friday. Although he had an AKM in his hands, he was found hanged with his belt, a senseless scenario that makes his close ones doubt the official version.
Cuba has become an unsafe country where the only way to get the police to show up is by putting up a sign against the dictatorship. Acts of violence occur daily, and unlike in the past, the regime can no longer silence the families mourning the loss of a loved one because there are too many, and they refuse to stay quiet.
This week, a 28-year-old man identified as Raciel Palacios, a resident of the Altamira neighborhood in Santiago de Cuba, was stabbed on Tuesday night near a bus stop in that area. The victim, the father of a young daughter, was urgently taken to the Joaquín Castillo Duany Military Hospital with severe injuries.
Earlier this month, another man, 36-year-old Roberto Castilla Oñate, was killed at a street party in the Chicharrones district of Santiago de Cuba. In this case, the motive for the attack seems to be related to a former partner.
At least 18 people died in Cuba in July due to the increasing wave of violence affecting the island, according to figures from the Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC).
FAQs on Recent Violence in Cuba
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the recent surge in violence in Cuba, based on the tragic events mentioned in the article.
Who was Usiel Quesada Florat?
Usiel Quesada Florat was a 23-year-old resident of the Salomé neighborhood in Camagüey who was fatally stabbed in the back.
Where did the attack on Usiel Quesada occur?
The attack occurred at a place known as Carpa de Jayamá, in front of the Hotel Camagüey.
How has the Cuban government responded to the recent violence?
The Cuban government has largely remained silent on these incidents, and state-run media have not reported on them. The public's frustration is growing as acts of violence continue to escalate.
What is the Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC)?
The Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC) is an organization that tracks and reports on violence and conflicts in Cuba. According to their data, at least 18 people died in July due to violence on the island.