Family member of American killed by Cuban forces in boat shootout says he was on 'diabolical' mission

The member of an American national killed successful a brazen vessel clash with Cuban forces says his sibling was consumed by an "obsessive and diabolical" propulsion to escaped the island, and that "no 1 knew" what helium was planning.

American national Michel Ortega Casanova, who worked arsenic a motortruck driver, was 1 of 10 passengers connected a Florida-registered vessel that allegedly opened occurrence connected Cuban soldiers successful an effort to infiltrate the island.

Ortega Casanova, who lived successful the U.S. for much than 2 decades, was 1 of 4 killed successful the attempt. He is survived by his wife, mother, brother, 2 sisters, girl and unborn grandchild.

Six different passengers, each Cubans surviving successful the U.S., were injured.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed an incidental involving Cuban forces and a speedboat Wednesday, earlier returning to Washington, D.C., pursuing meetings with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders, astatine Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport successful Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.  (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters)

Ortega Casanova's brother, Misael, told The Associated Press connected Wednesday that his member had an "obsessive and diabolical" pursuit for Cuba’s freedom.

"Only america Cubans who person lived implicit determination recognize [the large suffering]," Misael said.

He said "no 1 knew" astir his brother's plans to infiltrate the island, noting their parent is "devastated."

"They became truthful obsessed that they didn’t deliberation astir the consequences nor their ain lives," Misael said.

While Ortega Casanova's household did not admit immoderate of the different passengers, Misael said, "maybe [the attempt] volition warrant that immoderate time Cuba volition beryllium free."

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Cuban Coast Guard forces reported an speech of gunfire with a U.S.-registered speedboat connected Wednesday. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

He refrained from labeling the radical arsenic heroes, describing the thought arsenic "ignorance."

Cuban officials said galore of the vessel passengers, who were intercepted astir 1 mile northeast of Cayo Falcones — disconnected Cuba’s northbound coast, had a known past of transgression and convulsive activity.

Passengers Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez were wanted by Cuban authorities for their engagement successful the "promotion, planning, organization, financing, enactment oregon committee of actions carried retired successful the nationalist territory oregon successful different countries, successful transportation with acts of terrorism," according to the government.

Cuban person Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla posted to X aft the incident, claiming a "rigorous investigation" is being conducted to clarify the facts.

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"Cuba has had to look galore violent and assertive infiltrations originating from #EEUU since 1959, astatine a precocious outgo successful lives, injuries, and worldly damage," Rodriguez Parrilla wrote successful a post. "… The defence of Cuba's coasts, of the nationalist territory, and of nationalist information is an ineludible duty."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. is moving to find if the passengers were American citizens oregon imperishable residents.

"We person assorted antithetic elements of the U.S. authorities that are trying to place elements of the communicative that whitethorn not beryllium provided to america now," Rubio told reporters successful Basseterre, St. Kitts. "… Suffice it to say, it is highly antithetic to spot shootouts successful unfastened oversea similar that. It’s not thing that happens each day. It’s something, frankly, that hasn’t happened with Cuba successful a precise agelong time."

Cuban officials said the vessel's passengers were intercepted disconnected Cuba’s bluish coast. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto)

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Rubio said the U.S. volition verify the facts independently, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard are investigating.

Vice President JD Vance said helium was briefed connected the incidental and the White House is monitoring the situation.

"Hopefully it’s not arsenic atrocious arsenic we fearfulness it could be," Vance said.

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Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier said prosecutors volition enactment with federal, authorities and instrumentality enforcement partners to commencement an investigation.

"The Cuban authorities cannot beryllium trusted, and we volition bash everything successful our powerfulness to clasp these communists accountable," Uthmeier wrote successful a societal media post.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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