Man Dies in Santiago de Cuba After Family Dispute: Doctors Cite Heart Attack as Cause

On Sunday evening, Luis Felipe Mancebo Andrial, affectionately known by many in Santiago de Cuba as “El Faña,” passed away following what is believed to have been a family altercation. Although he was reportedly struck on the head with a padlock, medical professionals stated that the official cause of his death was a heart attack. The incident was brought to light by journalist Yosmany Mayeta through a Facebook post, explaining that it took place on Calle Prolongación de Gallo, where the deceased lived with his family.

Local residents informed the journalist that the alleged assault was carried out by his brother-in-law during an argument. "He was hit on the head with a padlock and they say he had a heart attack," recounted a witness quoted by the journalist, who maintained contact with those close to the situation throughout the night.

Initially, the attacker was accused by his own sister, the widow of the deceased, and was taken to the Micro 9 police station. However, after a forensic medical evaluation, it was determined that the blow was not the cause of death, leading to the release of the alleged assailant on Monday.

This decision has sparked outrage among the neighbors, who claim to have witnessed the assault and are questioning the lack of repercussions, as emphasized by Mayeta. "Where is justice in Cuba? That man attacked him with a padlock and he died... yet his brother-in-law walks free as if nothing happened. No one is held accountable for the death," lamented a neighborhood resident, quoted by the independent journalist in his post.

Luis Felipe, or “El Faña,” was a beloved figure in his community, known for his kind, respectful nature and his love for motorcycles. The news of his passing has deeply affected those who knew him and sparked a debate on social media about the lack of consequences in cases of family violence.

He is survived by his wife, twin children, and a wide circle of friends who are struggling to come to terms with the loss. "How can someone hit another person, that person dies afterwards, and the attacker remains free? No one pays for the deceased. Where is justice in this country?" expressed another outraged neighbor, as cited by social communicator Mayeta on Facebook.

In the early months of 2025, Cuba has witnessed several incidents of lethal violence, reinforcing the public's perception of impunity in the face of physical assaults.

In February, a bus driver named Antonio Díaz Méndez was stabbed in Bayamo by an assailant attempting to steal his belongings. Despite multiple surgeries and assistance from family members to obtain medications, Díaz Méndez succumbed to his injuries. The month before, Yaricza Chávez, a young mother, was shot in the chest by her ex-husband following a heated argument in Ciego de Ávila. Although the attacker was arrested, social media erupted in debate between those who justified his actions and those demanding justice for the victim, highlighting the ongoing issue of gender-based violence on the island.

A similar case occurred in Havana when 21-year-old Yoandri Giménez was reportedly stabbed over his cellphone in Centro Habana. Despite calling for help, he died shortly after at the hospital. Additionally, in October, 39-year-old Dagnis Alida Hernández Milanés was attacked by her ex-partner in her Santiago de Cuba home. The murder was witnessed by her 11-year-old son, underscoring institutional failures to prevent such crimes, as she had previously reported her attacker to the police.