Calm Returns to Cancun’s ‘Little Havana’ After Night of Tension Over Viral Attack

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Calm has returned to the Supermanzana 23 neighborhood of Cancun, known locally as ‘Little Havana,’ after a tense evening sparked by a viral video showing a Cuban man assaulting a Mexican resident over a dog-bite incident.

The altercation occurred Wednesday afternoon on the Las Palmas pedestrian walkway near Uxmal Avenue, according to witness accounts shared on social media. A dog allegedly bit a man walking in the area, and when the victim confronted the presumed owner, the argument escalated into a physical attack. Videos circulating online show the confrontation and the assault, which left the Mexican man injured.

The footage quickly spread, fueling outrage among Cancun residents who have complained about recurring violence in the neighborhood. On May 15, elderly residents protested at the municipal palace, reporting up to 10 incidents per month — including threats, brawls, and physical assaults — allegedly linked to a group of Cuban nationals living in the area. In early May, a young man was severely beaten with sticks and pipes after a minor dispute, requiring intervention by the State Prosecutor’s Office.

‘This is no longer an isolated incident; it happens constantly. We live in fear,’ residents said during the protest.

On Wednesday evening, dozens of people gathered in Supermanzana 23 demanding greater police presence and action from authorities. The demonstration prompted a multi-agency security operation involving federal, state, and municipal forces to prevent further escalation.

The couple involved in the original incident was taken into custody by the National Migration Institute (INM), which will review their legal status in Mexico and determine appropriate measures.

By Thursday morning, the neighborhood was quiet. ‘As if nothing had happened,’ a local resident said. However, the house where the Cuban couple lived showed damage from the crowd’s attack.