New details have emerged about the circumstances surrounding the assault of a teenage girl in Santiago de Cuba on Tuesday night, as well as the identity of the man detained for the crime. The alleged assailant has been identified as Reinier Vargas (also known as "Timba"), according to journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Thursday. He noted that Vargas resides in the Asunción neighborhood and is around 30 years old.
As previously reported, the man was on temporary release, serving a sentence for theft and had been previously convicted of rape. The attack reportedly occurred when the teenage girl, who recently turned 15, was returning home from a birthday party nearby. "The power went out in the neighborhood, and she was heading home when that scumbag was near the Polvorín Gas Station. He grabbed her with a knife to her neck and threatened to kill her if she screamed," a family member of the victim recounted.
Yasuris L. D., the mother of the affected girl, gave a brief statement to the reporter. "The pain that my daughter and we are feeling is something he should experience even worse. Everyone loves and cares for my daughter. Imagine, she has had heart surgery since she was five years old. She is a good and obedient girl, very attached to me and her brother, who lives with us," the mother explained. "I only ask that he faces the full extent of the law," she added.
A video released on Wednesday by Mayeta Labrada captured the tense moments when Reinier Vargas was arrested in El Polvorín as the suspected perpetrator of the teenage girl's assault. The footage showed how the number of neighbors at the scene quickly multiplied before the suspect was placed into a patrol car. "I didn't know so many people lived in El Polvorín," commented the person recording the video, referring to the fast-growing crowd.
Although the video did not clearly show it, some of those present reportedly struck the suspect as he was being led to the patrol car, prompting the police to fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd and prevent a possible lynching. The shots caused many frightened people to flee in various directions.
A later post from the pro-government Facebook page "Héroes del Moncada" defended the police's actions and the preventive warning shots "to disperse the crowd that surged toward the detainee with the intent to attack him." "Despite the disgraceful nature of the incident, Cuba is a state of law, and the Ministry of the Interior will always act to protect the lives of all its citizens, ensuring the enforcement of the law and due process," the official source stated regarding the incident, which occurred around 8 a.m. on June 5.
In February 2020, residents of Santiago de Cuba clashed with police, throwing stones, in an attempt to lynch the rapist of an eight-year-old girl. In that case, the alleged perpetrator was beaten and had objects thrown at his face at the entrance of a house while being protected by several police officers, who also fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
Key Questions About the Assault in Santiago de Cuba
Given the gravity and public interest in the assault case in Santiago de Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Who is the suspect in the Santiago de Cuba assault case?
The suspect has been identified as Reinier Vargas, also known as "Timba," a resident of the Asunción neighborhood.
What were the circumstances of the assault?
The teenage girl was returning home from a birthday party when the power went out in the neighborhood. The assailant, armed with a knife, threatened her and carried out the assault near the Polvorín Gas Station.
How did the community react to the arrest?
A large crowd quickly gathered at the scene, some of whom attempted to attack the suspect, prompting the police to fire warning shots to disperse them.
What has the government said about the incident?
The pro-government Facebook page "Héroes del Moncada" defended the police's actions, stating that the Ministry of the Interior will ensure the protection of all citizens and the enforcement of the law.