What we know about men reportedly involved in deadly shootout with Cuban forces
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told reporters earlier that he was made aware of the incident and that the U.S. is now gathering its own information to determine if the victims were American citizens or permanent residents.
By Andrea Rodríguez, Dánico Coto and Matthew Lee | The Associated Press, Briana Trujillo and Alexis Boentes • Published February 26, 2026 • Updated 1 hour ago
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We’re learning more about those involved in a deadly shooting off the coast of Cuba. NBC6’s Lorena Inclán and Hatzel Vela report.
Cuba’s government said late Wednesday that the 10 passengers on a boat that opened fire on its soldiers were armed Cubans living in the U.S. who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism.
NBC6 spoke to one of the men, who despite being on that list, says he's in South Florida, but skirted other questions about the deadly shooting.
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Who was on the boat?
Cuba said its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered boat that had entered Cuban waters and opened fire on the soldiers first, injuring one Cuban officer.
It identified seven of the 10 passengers, including:
Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara
Roberto Azcorra Consuegra
Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez
Conrado Galindo Sariol
Michel Ortega Casanova (deceased)
José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló
Amijail Sánchez González
Three others have not yet been identified.
Cuba’s government said the majority of the 10 people on the boat “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”
“The investigation process continues until the facts are fully clarified,” the ministry said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told reporters earlier that he was made aware of the incident and that the U.S. is now gathering its own information to determine if the victims were American citizens or permanent residents.
Cuba’s government said it obtained the details about the passengers aboard the boat from the suspects detained following the shootout.
Roberto Azcorra Consuegra
NBC6 spoke to one of the men reportedly injured in the shooting in a video call in Spanish.
He said he was surprised to know his name was on the list.
"What's important now is that my name is there, they say they have me detained and I'm here in the United States," Azcorra Consuegra said.
Roberto Azcorra Consuegra
On Thursday, he granted an on-camera interview, where he confirmed that he did in fact know the other men involved.
Azcorra Consuegra said he arrived to the U.S. in 2017 and is an asylee.
"I was active in Cuba, I'm a political activist," he said in Spanish. "When I got here I also was active and that's how I was connected [to them]."
He reiterated that he knows the men in person and that the news is difficult to hear.
"I have pictures with them," he said.
Azcorra Consuegra denied knowledge of any plans to go to Cuba in his initial interview with NBC6.
"They've given a real name, which is me, Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, but it's not me physically," he said as he showed his Florida ID.
Asked why he believes the government would provide his name, he replied: "They know me. They know me well, they know it all."
NBC6 is also working to verify videos that appear to show military-style trainings taking place in South Florida, and whether they had any link to possible plans to go to the island.
"We're in the U.S. Here, whoever has residency and has permission to carry arms can train for whatever they want, for their personal workouts, for their defense, for whatever. From there, what they used it for, I don't know what to tell you," Azcorra Consuegra said.
Michel Ortega Casanova
Misael Ortega Casanova, brother of Michel Ortega Casanova, told The Associated Press late Wednesday that he was mourning his brother’s death but lamented that he fell into what he called an “obsessive and diabolical” quest for Cuba’s freedom.
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>>24311831, >>24311839, >>24311849 Cuba says it killed heavily armed exiles who attacked from US-registered speedboat