The beating of Misael “El Piñas” , a young fruit vendor, provoked a violent retaliation by neighbors who set fire to the property of his alleged attackers, in a case that has shocked Puebla .
A violent episode of vigilante justice shook Tehuacán, Puebla , after videos circulated showing Julio Flores Cabrera and his son Gerson brutally assaulting Misael “El Piñas” , a 23-year-old fruit vendor. The attack occurred on Tuesday in front of an auto parts store, allegedly owned by the attackers, when the vendor set up his stand on the public road.
The aggression that outraged Mexico
The viral images show how:
- Gersonsubdues “El Piñas” by the neck
- Juliorepeatedly hits him on the head until he isunconscious.
- A woman tries to intervene without success
Witnesses revealed that Misael is a worker recognized for his efforts to support his parents—his father is hospitalized—which increased community solidarity .
The violent response
In the early hours of Wednesday, an angry crowd :
- He threw stonesandMolotov cocktailsat the Flores Cabreras’ home and business.
- He set fire to a vehicleand part of the property
- It forced the intervention of the Municipal Police, National Guard and Navy
The authorities have not reported on:
- The current health statusof “El Piñas”
- Arrestsfor the initial attack or the neighborhood counterattack
- Ongoing legal proceedings
The case has reopened the debate on social frustration over the perception of impunity and the limits of community justice in Mexico. Meanwhile, social media continues to show support for “El Piñas” under the hashtag #JusticiaParaElPiñas .