Shooting at Plaza Castilla in Santo Domingo kills Yhatnna Gelisa Cordero Bello

Yhatnna Gelisa Cordero Bello Plaza Castilla shooting Santo Domingo homicide Dominican Republic police intimidation motive

On 30 July 2026 a 37‑year‑old woman, Yhatnna Gelisa Cordero Bello, was shot inside a commercial establishment at Plaza Castilla on Abraham Lincoln Avenue in the Naco district of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She later died while receiving medical treatment.

Police say the gunman entered the shop looking for a man involved in an ongoing court case and opened fire when the victim panicked. The attacker fled on foot and remains unidentified. Colonel Diego Pesqueira of the National Police confirmed that investigators are reviewing CCTV footage, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to locate the suspect. The motive is believed to be intimidation of the targeted individual, who was scheduled to appear in court later that week.

The investigation continues under the direction of the National Police and the Public Ministry, with efforts to capture the shooter and bring him before the justice system.

Entities: Abraham Lincoln Avenue · Colonel Diego Pesqueira · Diego Pesqueira · Dominican Republic · Dominican Republic National Police · Enmanuel Hernández Medrano · Hansel García · Minister Víctor Atallah · National Police of the Dominican Republic · Plaza Castilla · Police National · Policía Nacional (Dominican Republic)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Hernández Medrano fled the Dominican Republic for Colombia on a commercial flight from Punta Cana on 25 July 2026. (Police and Ministry of Public statements)
[● 3 SOURCES] Investigators are checking whether Hernández Medrano held the required credentials, licenses and habilitations to perform medical procedures. (Police investigation)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Ministry of Health has closed more than 1,100 clinics lacking legal requirements. (74859435-ff04-48df-b073-ecaf46992e56)
[● 3 SOURCES] Police and the Ministry of Public are actively seeking to locate and capture Hernández Medrano. (Police and Ministry of Public announcement)
[● 3 SOURCES] Enmanuel Hernández Medrano, 38, a barber, is suspected of performing the procedure without medical credentials. (Police investigation)
[● 4 SOURCES] Rebecca Brizard, 28, died after an aesthetic surgery in Santo Domingo Este. (Investigation report)
[● 2 SOURCES] Minister Víctor Atallah warned of consequences for those involved in Brizard’s death. (b26d679d-fac5-4bed-845d-4762c73066f2)
[● 2 SOURCES] Hernández Medrano is the owner of Troyacor Bar & Lounge in Santo Domingo Este. (Business registration records)
[● 3 SOURCES] Rebecca Brizard was a Haitian citizen. (b26d679d-fac5-4bed-845d-4762c73066f2, e58cb0a5-f1e4-4582-b667-2f0a0cddd8d0, 27e8cae9-85bc-4970-aa2a-e3d3ea78292f)
[● 2 SOURCES] The victim died after being taken to a health centre. (supporting_article_ids)
[● 6 SOURCES] The shooter is unknown and remains at large. (supporting_article_ids)
[● 4 SOURCES] The man the shooter was looking for is a cellphone‑shop owner and friend of the victim, scheduled to appear in court. (supporting_article_ids)