Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters

How many casualties occurred in Florida speedboat incident?

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Cuban government forces fatally shot four people and wounded six others as they entered the nation's waters in a US-registered speedboat, sparking calls for investigations from both US and Cuban leaders.

Crewmembers opened fire on Cuban Ministry of the Interior forces as they approached the American vessel, the Cuban Embassy said in a statement. Aboard the Florida-registered vessel, four were killed and six were injured; the commander of the Ministry of the Interior vessel was wounded, Cuba said. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said U.S. government personnel were not involved and called for an investigation into the incident.

"I have every reason to want our own information. We in the United States don’t usually make decisions based on information from the Cuban government," Rubio said, adding that he wanted to determine whether the people involved were U.S. citizens. "Suffice it to say it is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that."

According to Cuban officials, the wounded speedboat crewmembers were evacuated for medical assistance. Cuban authorities declined to share additional information but also called for an investigation.

"In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region," Cuban authorities said. "Investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events."

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Rubio’s comments came hours after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier promised an investigation.

"I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation," Uthmeier said in a statement. "The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable."

Vice President JD Vance said that he had been briefed on the incident by Rubio.

"We don't know a whole lot of details," Vance told reporters. "Hopefully it's not as bad as we fear it could be, but I can't say more, because we just don't know more."

USA TODAY has reached out to the White House and State Department for comment.

Cuban regime 'has a lot of enemies', says Cuban exile in Miami

News of the incident reverberated through Miami’s anti-Castro, Cuban exile community, some of which had been anticipating a move from the Trump administration on Cuba following the removal of former president Nicholas Maduro from Venezuela. 

The U.S. restricted oil shipments from Venezuela to Cuba following Maduro’s arrest, plunging the communist island into further economic duress and turmoil.

Nick Gutierrez, president of the National Association of Sugar Mill Owners of Cuba, an exile group that opposes the current regime in Cuba, called the shooting a desperate act from a government clinging to its survival.

He said he didn’t know who the owners of the boat were but that the shootout didn’t surprise him.

"This regime is like the walking dead, it’s a zombie," he said. "And it has a lot of enemies."

'We need a full investigation': Florida leaders respond

Lawmakers in Florida quickly responded to the incident by calling for an investigation.

In a statement, Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez, R-Florida, called the incident a "massacre" and demanded an investigation into "whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred."

"The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity," Gimenez said.

Sen. Rick Scott, R- Florida, joined Gimenez in calling for an investigation.

"We need a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation and to determine what happened," Scott said in a statement. The Communist Cuban regime must be held accountable!

What to know about the boat?

Cuban authorities shared the boat’s registration number was FL7726SH.

According to a USA TODAY analysis of boat records, the vessel is 24 feet long and dates back to 1981.

Records show the vessel last changed owners in December 2022 and its registration was set to expire in October 2026.

Where did the incident happen?

According to Cuban authorities, the gunfight happened when the Florida-registered boat approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.

Why are tensions rising between Cuba and US?

The incident happened at a time when there have been increased tensions between the U.S. and Cuba.

Cuba is facing a fuel crisis made worse after the United States captured longtime Cuban ally Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and blocked oil shipments from the country. President Donald Trump announced in January plans for U.S. companies to control and sell Venezuela's oil instead.

On Jan. 11, Trump told Cuba they needed to make a deal in a post on his social media site, Truth Social.

"THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," Trump said, although he did not elaborate at the time on what that deal might be.

The Cuban statement may have referenced this, saying that "in the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters" and safeguard its sovereignty.