Juan Carlos Cárdenas Pérez died that day at 23:30 hours, at the intersection of Calle Salvo and Sargento Aldea in Punta Arenas, due to multiple skull fractures, as stated in the Medical Death Certificate from the Legal Medical Institute.

On February 5, near midnight and shortly before the start of the curfew, a military patrol stopped the truck in which Juan Carlos Cárdenas was traveling along with the driver. According to neighbors who witnessed the events, both were forced to get out of the vehicle, leading to an argument between Juan Cárdenas and the military personnel.

Gunshots were heard, and then one of the uniformed men climbed into the truck and ran over the victim. The body remained on the public thoroughfare until the following day.

Considering the evidence gathered by this Corporation, the Superior Council reached the conviction that the death of Juan Carlos Cárdenas Pérez occurred as a consequence of an abuse of power committed by an agent of the State, without having been duly sanctioned for this act. Therefore, it declared him a victim of human rights violations.