20/06/2026 09:03 - Sociales
Un joven argentino mirando con determinación hacia adelante, con expresión de resiliencia y esperanza, fondo urbano de barrio residencial argentino con casas bajas, iluminación cálida de atardecer
The night of November 22, 2022 was forever etched in the memory of José Oscar Naón Giménez. The sound of the door bursting open, the gunshots, the image of his father advancing through the house in Cañuelas (a town located about 50 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina) where his mother had sought refuge.
José Averio Naón, a 60-year-old former military officer, was at that time under a perimeter restriction order for gender-based violence (a legal measure in Argentina intended to keep aggressors away from their victims). However, this did not prevent him from unleashing a massacre: he murdered his ex-partner María Alejandra Giménez Díaz, Edgardo (her son from a previous relationship), critically wounded José, and then took his own life.
José, who was 20 years old at the time, recounted to TN (an Argentine news channel) the phrase his father said after shooting him in the chest: "You knew I was going to come." Those were the last words he heard from him before he committed suicide.
Despite being gravely wounded, José never lost consciousness. He spent two weeks in intensive care and today only bears some physical scars. The emotional wounds, however, continue their healing process.
According to José's testimony, arguments between his parents were common throughout much of his childhood. "They spoke badly to each other, he laughed at my mom as if everything was a joke," he recalled.
The definitive breaking point came one month before the femicide (a term used in Latin America to describe the killing of women because of their gender), when Naón hit his wife for the first time after checking her phone and finding conversations he interpreted as evidence of infidelity. María Alejandra decided to separate and take refuge at her eldest son's house in Cañuelas.
On his social media accounts, the aggressor posted disturbing messages. On November 6, 2022, 16 days before the attack, he wrote: "Ale, we need to talk, it can't go on like this, the family destroyed." He also shared photos of weapons with phrases like "getting in shape for what's coming."
José discovered these posts only after leaving the hospital and interpreted them as warnings that no one managed to decode in time.
"Justice needs to start acting more to prevent tragedies like this. With just a complaint, a perimeter restriction, and a panic button, you don't stop anyone," José warned in his interview with TN, referring to the limitations of current protection measures in Argentina's legal system.
Today, nearly two years after the tragedy, José has rebuilt his life. His uncles welcomed him in Cañuelas and offered him work. He formed a new family with his partner. "Fortunately, I found a person who loves me and whom I love. We can have projects together," he shared.
His message for those going through similar situations is clear: "I would like someone who is experiencing something similar to know that there is a future after all this. It's not easy, it requires a lot of willpower, but if you start filling your life with purpose, little by little it starts to make sense again."
If you or someone you know is experiencing gender-based violence in Argentina, contact Line 144 (Línea 144), a free, 24/7 helpline providing assistance, guidance, and support for victims. The service is available nationwide, every day of the year.
Femicide (femicidio) is a specific crime category in many Latin American countries, including Argentina, that refers to the killing of women because of their gender. The country has implemented various legal measures to combat gender-based violence, including the National Law 26.485 on Comprehensive Protection for Women. However, cases like this highlight the ongoing challenges in enforcing protective measures effectively.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
