Tampa man killed in Cuban boat shootout wanted to overthrow island’s government, loved ones say

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The family and friends of Michel Ortega Casanova said he was one of four men killed in an armed confrontation off the Cuban Coast.

The Cuban government claims 10 men were on a boat registered in Florida that tried to invade their coast.

The Cubans said they intercepted the boat and a shootout resulted. Four men on the boat were killed while six others were wounded and taken into custody.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also Cuban American, said the U.S. government is conducting their own investigation into the incident because it does not trust the Cuban version of events.

Thursday, the Cuban Ministry of the Interior identified the individuals as:

Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara

Conrado Galindo Serrior

José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló

Leordán Cruz Gomez of Tampa

Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez

Roberto Alvarez Avila

Michael Ortega Casanova of Tampa

Ledián Padrón Guevara

Hector Duani Cruz Correa

The last four people on the list were said to be deceased. The others are in Cuban custody.

According to the Cuban government, weapons were found on the boat, including “assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, multiple assault equipment including night vision equipment, bulletproof vests, assault bayonets, camouflage clothing,........

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