A speedboat stolen from a Florida property entered Cuban waters with lethal intentions Wednesday, sparking a violent confrontation between the U.S. citizens aboard and Cuba’s coast guard that claimed four lives and injured six others.
The incident began when five members of the Border Guard Troops approached a boat reportedly belonging to an American citizen who had allegedly stolen it. The occupants displayed weapons including assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms before opening fire on the Cuban military vessel, wounding its commander in command.
The four individuals killed were identified as Pavel Alling Peña, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledián Padrón Guevara, and Hector Duani Cruz Correa by Cuba’s Interior Ministry. The six wounded included Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castaño, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Amijail Sánchez González, and Roberto Álvarez Ávila.
Additionally, the U.S. government confirmed that at least one American citizen was among those arrested for allegedly traveling on a vessel intended for “terrorist purposes.” It emerged that Pavel Alling Peña had a K-1 visa to come to the United States as his fiancé’s travel companion, while others were legal permanent residents.
Among those named in Cuban warrants are González and Gómez, who have been wanted by Cuba since at least 2023 and 2025 for alleged involvement in acts of terrorism. These two individuals have resided within U.S. territory despite facing criminal investigations from Cuban authorities.
The incident marked a significant escalation amid heightened tensions between the United States and Cuba, following President Trump’s recent sanctions against the Caribbean nation in retaliation for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s capture by Cuban forces. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that no public information has been provided beyond what was reported by Cuban authorities, with ongoing investigations conducted by U.S. agencies including Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, and other relevant departments.
In a statement on social media, Cuba’s embassy in Washington noted their commitment to thorough investigation efforts while calling for cooperative communication between U.S. and Cuban security forces. Misael Ortega Casanova, brother of Michael Ortega Casanova (who was killed), expressed frustration with Cuba’s communist government as his brother pursued an “obsessive” plan to dismantle it.