[2][3] At the beginning of 1848, the Congress was discussing the trial of the president José Tadeo Monagas for acts that violated the constitution.

[4] Outside of the Congress, rumor had it that Sanabria had been arrested or assassinated, which angered the liberal mob on the street, which tried to enter but was repelled by the guard, initiating the confrontation.

The parliamentarians Francisco Argote, José Antonio Salas and Juan García were also killed by the mob, as were the sergeant Pedro Pablo Azpúrua and a tailor involved in the brawl.

Paez rose against Monagas few days after January 24; but he was defeated in the battle of Los Araguatos and had to take refuge in the republic of New Granada.

In mid-1849 he landed in La Vela de Coro, and started another battle but he was defeated again by the government troops, commanded by José Laurencio Silva, who offered him capitulation, but Monagas refused to recognize the terms of the capitulation offered by Silva, and in consequence Páez was imprisoned, and eventually exiled.