Cuba’s government announced on Wednesday that the group of 10 individuals on a vessel that engaged in a firefight with Cuban soldiers were armed Cuban expatriates residing in the United States who were attempting to infiltrate Cuba with intentions of carrying out terrorist activities.
The incident occurred when the Florida-registered speedboat entered Cuban waters and initiated gunfire towards the Cuban soldiers, resulting in the death of four individuals and injuries to six others on board. One Cuban officer was also wounded during the exchange.
According to the Cuban government, the majority of the individuals on the boat have a criminal and violent background. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that the U.S. is investigating to confirm if any of the victims were American citizens or permanent residents.
Among the passengers, two individuals, Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, were identified as wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in terrorist activities. Another individual, Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested and confessed to being sent from the U.S. to facilitate the armed infiltration.
The Cuban government disclosed the identities of seven of the passengers, including Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. The investigation is ongoing to identify the remaining passengers.
Rubio emphasized the uncommon nature of the incident and stated that the U.S. is independently verifying the information provided by Cuban authorities. He mentioned that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are conducting their investigations to ascertain the facts.
Conrado Galindo Sariol, one of the identified passengers, previously expressed support for Cuban struggles in an interview with Martí Noticias in June 2025. Rubio stated that the U.S. is actively engaged in communication with Cuban authorities regarding the incident.
The shooting incident could escalate tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, with concerns raised over the potential implications. U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the White House is closely monitoring the situation.
The shooting incident could raise tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, with potential implications. U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the White House is closely monitoring the situation.
Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has initiated an investigation in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. While altercations between Cuba’s Coast Guard and U.S.-registered vessels are not uncommon, instances of passengers opening fire or being killed are rare.
