TAMPA, Fla. – Brother of US citizen killed in brazen boat collision with cuban forces He says his brother was consumed by an “obsessive and diabolical” drive to liberate the island and that “no one knew” what he was planning.
U.S. citizen Michel Ortega Casanova, who worked as a truck driver, was one of 10 passengers on a Florida-registered boat that allegedly opened fire on Cuban soldiers in an attempt to infiltrate the island.
An incident report from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office obtained by Fox News noted that the owner of the boat reported it stolen on Wednesday after hearing about the shooting in Cuba on the news.
The owner, who did not speak English, told agents that his 24-foot boat was missing and he suspected that an employee named Hector, who had two young daughters in Cuba, might have taken it.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters in a departure lounge before returning to Washington after meeting with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Ortega Casanova, who lived in the United States for more than two decades, was one of the four killed in the attempt. He is survived by his wife, mother, brother, two sisters, daughter and unborn grandson.
Six other passengers, all Cubans residing in the United States, were injured. It is unclear if Hector was on board.
Ortega Casanova’s brother, Misael, said The Associated Press Wednesday that his brother had an “obsessive and diabolical” quest for the freedom of Cuba.
“Only Cubans who have lived there understand [the great suffering]”Misael said.
He said “no one knew” about his brother’s plans to infiltrate the island, and noted that his mother is “devastated.”
“They became so obsessed that they didn’t think about the consequences or their own lives,” Misael said.
Although Ortega Casanova’s family did not recognize any of the other passengers, Misael said that “maybe [the attempt] “It will justify that one day Cuba will be free.”
CUBA IS APPROACHING THE TIME OF THE BERLIN WALL: THE UNITED STATES MUST HELP THEM OVERCOME THE WALL
He refrained from labeling the group as heroes, describing the idea as “ignorance.”
Cuban officials said many of the ship’s passengers, who were intercepted about a mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, off Cuba’s northern coast, had a known history of criminal and violent activity.
The passengers Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez were wanted by the Cuban authorities for their participation in the “promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions carried out in the national territory or in other countries, in relation to acts of terrorism“, according to the government.
Cuban politician Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla posted on X after the incident, stating that a “rigorous investigation” is being carried out to clarify the facts.
CUBA IDENTIFIES 32 MILITARY KILLED IN US OPERATION AGAINST THE MADURO REGIME IN VENEZUELA
“Cuba has had to face numerous terrorist and aggressive infiltrations from #USA since 1959, with a high cost in lives, injuries and material damage,” Rodríguez Parrilla wrote in a post. “The defense of the coasts of Cuba, the national territory and national security is an unavoidable duty.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio He said the United States is working to determine whether the passengers were U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
U.S. officials said at least two of the people at bat were U.S. citizens, and another had a U.S. K-1 visa, which is granted to fiancees of U.S. citizens for 90 days.
“We have several different elements of the United States government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now,” Rubio told reporters in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
“Suffice to say, it’s very unusual to see shootings like that on the open ocean. It’s not something that happens every day. It’s something, frankly, that hasn’t happened with Cuba in a long time.”
RUSSIA WARNS AGAINST ‘PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS’ AROUND CUBA AFTER 4 DEATHS ON BOARD US-REGISTERED SPEEDBOAT
Rubio said the United States will independently verify the facts and that the Department of Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard are investigating.
vice president J. D. Vance He said he was informed about the incident and that the White House is monitoring the situation.
“Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear,” Vance said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier He said prosecutors will work with federal, state and law enforcement partners to launch an investigation.
“The Cuban government cannot be trusted and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” Uthmeier wrote in a social media post.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read more at FOXNews.com.
