Emmanuel Contreras dies after fatal attack in Los Praditos

Emmanuel Contreras Medina, a 23-year-old student and worker, has died following a brutal attack in the Los Praditos sector of Santo Domingo. The incident occurred on July 1 after Contreras went to meet a seller from Facebook Marketplace to purchase a cell phone.

According to family members, Contreras was allegedly defrauded and beaten with a baseball bat, sustaining severe head injuries that left him in critical condition for months. His family has publicly called for justice, alleging that one of the suspects, Lenin Jhericop Núñez de León, is the son of a police colonel. Authorities reported that Núñez de León was arrested at the Las Américas International Airport upon arriving from Miami.

The Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) issued a statement expressing condolences and noting that another individual involved in the case is the child of two university employees. UASD Rector Jorge Asjana stated the institution trusts authorities to determine legal responsibilities, though the victim's sister has criticized the university's response, accusing the rector of protecting the involved parties.