At least one American citizen was shot dead and another injured on Wednesday after Cuban border guards opened fire on a Florida-registered speedboat off the island’s northern coast, a US official has confirmed.
Cuban authorities said four people aboard the vessel were killed and six others injured during what they described as a firefight about one nautical mile off Cayo Falcones. Havana accused the group of attempting “an infiltration with terrorist aims” and claimed those on the boat fired first. The commander of the Cuban patrol boat was also reported injured.
A US official said one of the dead was an American citizen, while another American was wounded. A third individual aboard the vessel was reportedly in the US on a K-1 fiancée visa. Cuban officials, however, stated that all 10 people on the boat were Cuban nationals residing in the United States and identified an 11th suspect allegedly arrested in connection with the incident.
Cuba’s Interior Ministry said handguns, assault rifles, improvised explosive devices and other tactical gear were recovered from the vessel. It added that most of the passengers had prior criminal records involving violent offences.
The boat’s owner has claimed the vessel was stolen by an employee before the incident. Efforts to verify the registration number provided by Cuban authorities did not immediately yield ownership or tracking details.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the shooting as “highly unusual” and said Washington was investigating. He stressed that it was not a US government operation and that no American personnel were involved.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel vowed to defend the country’s sovereignty, saying on social media that Cuba would respond “with determination and firmness” to any aggression. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said the United States had shown a willingness to cooperate in clarifying the events.
The shooting comes amid heightened tensions between Havana and Washington. US President Donald Trump recently warned Cuba to “make a deal” or face consequences after US forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a military operation and blocked oil shipments from Venezuela, a key Cuban ally.
The incident also revives memories of the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by the US-based group Brothers to the Rescue, in which four people were killed, sparking outrage in the United States.
On Wednesday, even as tensions flared, the US Treasury said it would ease certain small private-sector transactions, including limited oil sales, to support the Cuban people for commercial and humanitarian purposes.
