Father posts family photo on social media before going on vacation, muggers murder his 9-year-old son minutes after their arrival

A devastated father from the Bronx has warned those traveling for vacation, especially to the Dominican Republic, not to post "anything" on social media about their travel plans after his son was murdered by a gang of muggers earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Sergio Luis Feliz Mancebo and his family were at JFK Airport in New York City, waiting to board a plane to the Dominican Republic for a spring break vacation. Mancebo even took to social media and posted a picture of his family at the airport before they took off.

Some in the Dominican Republic must have been paying attention, because when Mancebo and his family arrived at Cibao International Airport in Santiago later that day, at least five members of a gang of thieves spotted Mancebo and began following him, reports say.

A family friend then picked the Mancebos up from the airport. While driving through a toll booth about a half-hour later, the gang ambushed the family and demanded money. The driver refused to stop and attempted to flee the scene, so the gang members reportedly drew weapons and began firing at the vehicle.

One of their bullets struck Mancebo's 9-year-old son, Gioser Luís Feliz, in the head. The driver raced to the hospital, where doctors immediately brought little Gioser in for surgery. Sadly, he died during the operation. His remains will be returned to the United States for burial.

On Thursday, the National Police arrested five suspects in the case: 18-year-old Luis Angel Vargas Brito, César Junior Ulloa Cuevas, Derlin Javier Mercado Martínez, 22-year-old Elian Martínez Sánchez, and 20-year-old José Manuel Almonte Santana. Police said that they saw the gang on surveillance footage from the airport and watched as the thugs stalked Mancebo and his family as they wended their way outside.

Police soon afterward found the gang members themselves by tracking the white Hyundai that they had recently rented and had reportedly used in commission of the crime. The suspects later "admitted their participation" in the shooting, police claimed.

The news of little Gioser's death has shocked Dominicans everywhere, including President Luis Abinader. "Since I found out about the death of the child Gioser Luis Féliz, I have been following up on the case," Abinader tweeted in Spanish on Thursday. "I have been informed by the Director of the National Police about the arrest of the 5 criminals who committed this horrendous crime. Now justice must be ensured in the courts."

Last October, the U.S. State Department issued a level 2 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic due to increased incidents of violence there. "Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic," the advisory stated. Americans traveling to the Dominican Republic are advised to exercise "increased caution" during their stay. That advisory was updated on Monday, just two days before Gioser's death.

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