The Mantilla neighborhood in Havana's Arroyo Naranjo district is reeling from the brutal murder of Leonardo Garlobo Castellanos, a father of three young children. The tragic event unfolded on November 19, merely three days after his 41st birthday, leaving a trail of grief and outrage among family, neighbors, and friends, as reported by La Tijera on Facebook.
Reports from alleged witnesses suggest that a group of around 15 individuals forcibly entered Garlobo Castellanos' home, breaking down the door and launching a vicious attack. While this account has not been verified, our team continues to await confirmation from official sources or state media.
The horrific incident was confirmed on Facebook by the victim's half-brother, Leonardo Garlobo Acosta, who expressed profound sorrow over the loss. "Today, tomorrow, and always, I'll remember you, though you left me with this pain I will never overcome. I hope you're in a better place... We'll meet again to be together, just like you wanted. We all miss you dearly. I love you, my brother. May God hold you in His glory," shared Garlobo Acosta.
The attackers, reportedly driven by a dispute over soccer, allegedly stabbed and beat the victim with a stick in front of his family, including his young children and his 16-year-old daughter. Leonardo, known for his kind nature and dedication to his children, took on the role of sole caregiver after his wife's passing several years ago, as noted by several social media comments.
The loss leaves his children orphaned, thrusting them into a vulnerable situation that has sparked deep sympathy within the community. Zenaida Bruzón Castillo, the mother of one of his daughters, voiced the family's anguish: "He was a good father, son, and friend. This has left the children without a father, and two of them are now motherless. It's a grave injustice."
Two suspects have been apprehended, but the community continues to demand justice and heightened security in the area. Leonardo's farewell drew residents from Mantilla and surrounding neighborhoods, all remembering his kindness and devotion to his family.
Despite the Cuban regime's claims that social media presents an exaggerated view of violence in Cuba, independent news outlets frequently report on crimes like the one in Mantilla. Recently, a young Cuban named Alain Nolasco was brutally murdered in El Fanguito, a neighborhood in Havana's Vedado district. As reported by the independent journalist "NioReportandoUnCrimen," the incident occurred last Monday at 3 am on 15th Street between 26 and 28, right in the middle of the street.
In what appeared to be a street fight involving between 13 and 15 people, the victim was stabbed by at least four neighbors and suffered blows from pipes, hammers, and even a bottle, according to the report.
Similarly, 22-year-old Jesús David Corcho Pérez, who had been reported missing since the previous Sunday in Jovellanos, Matanzas, was found dead on Thursday, family sources confirmed. Four days after his disappearance was urgently reported by his family, a cousin revealed the tragic outcome: he was found murdered, though no further details were provided.
Equally horrifying, on Friday morning, a local reporter Yosmany Mayeta shared on Facebook that an entire family was murdered in their home in the San Luis municipality of Santiago de Cuba, with their house allegedly set on fire to disguise the crime as an accidental blaze. The attack claimed at least three lives, a young man and his parents.