Truck driver killed in shooting off Cuba, family says he pursued "obsessive mission" for freedom
Michel Ortega Casanova, a truck driver who had lived in the US for over 20 years, was among four people killed after Cuban border guards opened fire on a speedboat. The incident occurred off Cayo Falcones, about one nautical mile from the shore, involving a Florida-registered vessel.
According to his brother, Misael Ortega, Casanova had fallen into an "obsessive and reckless journey" seeking freedom for Cuba. The family was completely unaware of the plan, leaving his mother devastated upon hearing the news. Mr. Casanova is survived by his mother, two sisters—one of whom still lives in Cuba—and a pregnant daughter.
Details of the incident
Cuban officials stated that the vessel was accused of entering territorial waters in an "armed infiltration" plot. During the exchange of gunfire, six others were wounded, and Cuban authorities claimed that assault rifles, handguns, and Molotov cocktails were found on board.
Two others on the boat, Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, are on Cuba's wanted list for alleged involvement in terrorist activities. Another man, Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested within Cuban territory for allegedly assisting the armed group, although officials have not confirmed whether he was on the boat.
The 1981 Pro-Line vessel had disappeared from a marina in the Florida Keys before appearing in the incident. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has questioned the boat's owner, but he is not considered a suspect.
Response from the United States
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will independently gather information regarding the incident. He noted that the US Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security are conducting investigations to clarify exactly what happened.
Florida General Counsel James Uthmeier has called for a comprehensive investigation, while Representative Carlos A. Gimenez criticized the Havana government and demanded clear accountability. Cuba continues to maintain that the shooting was to protect its national sovereignty, and investigations are ongoing from both sides.
