Cuban Recruit Kills Captain at Military Unit in Cárdenas After Ignoring Warning Shots
A sentinel fired and killed Captain Héctor Vera Duvergel at Military Unit 1410 in Cárdenas, Matanzas, following alleged attempt to steal fuel.
Captain Shot Dead in Matanzas Barracks by Sentinel Following Protocol
Captain Héctor Vera Duvergel was killed by a recruit on night guard duty inside Military Unit 1410, located in the Fines neighbourhood of Cárdenas municipality, Matanzas. This was confirmed by periodicocubano.com through testimonies published on the Facebook page Nio Reportando un Crimen.
According to these testimonies, Vera Duvergel entered irregularly into a security perimeter with the alleged intention of stealing fuel. The sentinel on duty, identified as Juan Miguel Jiménez, was in charge of the second night watch when he detected access to the restricted zone.
Jiménez called out a halt and, upon receiving no response, fired warning shots in accordance with current protocol. Vera Duvergel continued advancing and attempted to attack the soldier with a knife. Jiménez responded with a burst from his service weapon, causing the officer's death.
No state institution has confirmed the accusations against the captain nor has released preliminary investigation results.
Background of the Officer and Recruit
People claiming knowledge of the case indicate that Vera Duvergel had been demoted for alleged misconduct during his military career and reinstated to the rank of captain only days before the incident. This version has likewise not been independently corroborated.
Originally from Camagüey, the officer reportedly told his wife that he would attempt to obtain fuel to travel to that province, according to sources cited by periodicocubano.com. The testimonies also indicate that it would not have been the first time he attempted to misappropriate resources from the unit.
Following interrogations, Jiménez reportedly was transferred to another military installation. His current legal situation is unknown, and it is unclear whether the transfer of posting responds to a protection procedure, security measure, or precautionary measure.
A Pattern of Deaths in Compulsory Military Service
The incident highlights the risks faced by young Cubans required to complete Active Military Service. Allegations circulated in recent years record frequent thefts of fuel, food, livestock, and other resources from state facilities, in the context of scarcity and economic deterioration.
The Cuban Observatory for Citizen Audit (OCAC), with the backing of Cuba Siglo 21, documented at least 97 deaths or disappearances of young people during completion of Active Military Service in the period between August 2001 and spring 2026. The average age of the victims was 18.7 years.
The report warns that the actual figure could be significantly higher, given that the Cuban government does not publish official statistics on deaths within the Armed Forces.
The compulsory nature of service for men has been subject to sustained criticism by relatives of recruits and human rights organisations, who denounce lack of transparency, poor conditions in units, and exposure of young people to risky situations without accountability mechanisms.
Source: Google News CU — Crime