Cuba Boat Shooting: Who Were the Four Killed After Florida Vessel Entered Cuban Waters?
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| The Cuban Coast Guard killed four people in a Florida-registered speedboat after the vessel crossed into the nation's waters and opened fire, Cuban officials said. A stock image of a Cuban Coast Guard vessel is pictured, not the vessel in Wednesday's incident |
Cuban authorities say four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat were killed Wednesday, February 25, 2026, after the vessel entered Cuban territorial waters near the country’s north-central coast and exchanged gunfire with Cuban forces. Six other people on the boat were injured, and one Cuban border-patrol commander was wounded, according to Cuba’s Interior Ministry.
The incident, reported by multiple international outlets, quickly drew political reaction in Florida and is likely to add strain to already tense U.S.-Cuba relations.
What Cuba says happened
In a statement carried by state-linked and international reporting, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said the speedboat—registered in Florida—crossed into Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban border forces. Cuban personnel returned fire, Cuba said, leading to four fatalities on the boat and injuries among others onboard.
Cuba identified the location as near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province, an area that has been described in regional reporting as a corridor used for illicit maritime activity, including smuggling and irregular migration.
Cuban officials said the injured people from the speedboat were evacuated and received medical attention.
Who was on the boat?
As of Wednesday night, Cuban authorities had not publicly released the identities or nationalities of those aboard the vessel, and reporting noted that it remained unclear why the boat entered Cuban waters or what its mission was.
That uncertainty has fueled competing interpretations: Cuba has characterized the group as armed attackers, while Florida officials and Cuban-exile voices have urged caution and independent verification of Havana’s version of events.
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| Cuban Embassy in US |
Injuries and Number of Boats Involved
Beyond the four fatalities, Cuban authorities reported that six other individuals aboard the same Florida-registered speedboat were injured during the exchange of gunfire. The wounded passengers were transported for medical treatment, though officials have not publicly disclosed the severity of their injuries or their identities.
In addition, one Cuban border patrol commander was wounded during the confrontation, according to statements released by Cuba’s Interior Ministry. No further information has been provided regarding his condition.
Only One Boat Involved
International reporting indicates that the incident involved a single vessel — a Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban territorial waters near the island’s north-central coast.
There have been no confirmed reports of a second boat or coordinated fleet activity. Cuban authorities described the clash as a direct encounter between their border forces and the lone speedboat. U.S. officials have not suggested that additional vessels were involved.
Reaction in Florida and the U.S.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an investigation and expressed skepticism toward Cuba’s account, according to U.S. reporting. Florida Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez also condemned the killings and criticized the Cuban government.
At the federal level, early coverage noted that U.S. agencies—including the Coast Guard and State Department—had not immediately provided detailed public comment.
Why this incident matters
Fatal shootings involving a U.S.-registered vessel and Cuban forces are uncommon, making this clash especially sensitive. Analysts and regional observers have long described the Florida Straits as a hotspot for dangerous maritime crossings and criminal trafficking, but most interdictions do not end in lethal gunfire.
The timing also matters. International reporting has framed the episode against a backdrop of heightened diplomatic friction and Cuba’s ongoing economic and energy pressures, conditions that can amplify regional security incidents into broader political flashpoints.
What to watch next
Key questions now hinge on evidence: whether Cuban authorities release additional details (names, origin points, weapons claims, vessel tracking data), and whether U.S. investigators can corroborate the sequence of events through maritime records, survivor interviews, or federal agency reporting.
For families and communities in Florida, the lack of confirmed identities has also left a basic question unresolved: who exactly was on the boat, and how did a Florida-registered vessel end up in a firefight inside Cuban waters?
FAQs
Were the four people confirmed to be Americans?
Not publicly. Coverage says Cuba has not released identities or nationalities, and U.S. officials had not confirmed who was onboard.
Where did the shooting happen?
Cuba placed it near Cayo Falcones off Villa Clara province on Cuba’s north-central coast.
How many people were injured?
Cuba reported six injured on the speedboat and one injured Cuban border-patrol commander.
What was the boat allegedly doing in Cuban waters?
Cuba said it entered territorial waters and opened fire. Reporting also notes the region is associated with smuggling and irregular crossings, but the boat’s specific purpose has not been independently established.
Is there an investigation?
Florida’s attorney general said his office would investigate, and the situation is developing.
