The World Today
Murder of a barber in Uruguay: grief and outrage in Montevideo
A 27-year-old barber was murdered during a robbery in the Fortaleza del Cerro neighborhood of Montevideo . The crime sparked outrage and calls for justice.
The Cerro Norte neighborhood of Montevideo is experiencing hours of mourning following the murder of Gonzalo de Castro, a 27-year-old barber beloved by his community. On Monday afternoon, while filming a commercial for his barber shop at the Cerro Fortress, he was approached by an armed man who attempted to rob him.
Cerro Fortress, crime scene
The attack occurred in one of the most popular tourist areas of the Uruguayan capital. According to police, De Castro struggled with the attacker, who ended up shooting him in the neck. Despite being rushed to Hospital del Cerro , he died hours later due to the severity of his wound.
Who was Gonzalo de Castro?
Neighbors remember him as a caring young man who opened his barbershop in 2022 and quickly became a neighborhood icon. He organized toy drives, gave free haircuts to children from poor families, and even gave hairdressing classes to young people interested in the trade. His last charity event drew dozens of people and forced the street to be closed due to the massive turnout.
Insecurity in Montevideo and demands for justice
News of the crime sparked outrage on social media, where friends and clients demanded justice under the slogan "Gonza, always present." Neighbors and relatives gathered outside his barbershop and at the hospital where he spent his final hours . Police continue their search for the perpetrator, who fled after the shooting.
Repercussions in the neighborhood
Close friends described him as “the soul of the neighborhood.” Nahuel, one of them, said he was always willing to help and even added more chairs to the barbershop due to high customer demand. “He was solidarity incarnate. We can't believe what happened,” he said.
The murder of Gonzalo de Castro not only impacted his family and close friends, it also brought the discussion about insecurity in Montevideo back to the forefront. In recent years, various neighborhoods in the capital have experienced incidents of violence that have caused concern among citizens and sparked political debates about the effectiveness of public security policies .
The case has a symbolic component that makes it even more painful: the victim was a positive role model for his community. Testimonies reported in local media highlight Gonzalo as "the joy of the neighborhood," a young entrepreneur who had worked hard to build his barbershop and who, despite his work commitments, found time to organize charity events. The most recent of these brought together dozens of families who received food and toys.
The barbershop, located in Cerro Norte, became a place of remembrance in just a few hours. Flowers, signs, and candles surround the entrance, where neighbors wrote messages like "Always present" and "Your kindness will not be forgotten." This collective gesture reflects the magnitude of the pain, but also the unity of a community demanding answers.
Meanwhile, social media was filled with messages under the hashtag #JusticiaParaGonza. Clients, friends, and even strangers shared memories and photos that show the young man's closeness to the people. "He didn't just take a barber, he took a brother from our neighborhood," wrote one user.
Police authorities are continuing the investigation. According to reports, they are reviewing security cameras in the area and are seeking to identify the suspect, who fled after firing the shot. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor's Office is evaluating various hypotheses, although the main one points to an attempted robbery involving the car De Castro had purchased last week.
The crime rekindles a larger debate: how to protect young workers like Gonzalo, who are trying to get ahead with their own projects. In this context, Uruguayan society faces the challenge of curbing the violence that affects even those who represent examples of solidarity and community commitment.
