Michel Ortega Casanova, Florida Resident Identified Among Four Killed in Maritime Shooting Near Cuba.
One of the four men k!lléd during a shooting incident off the coast of Cuba on Wednesday has been identified by family members as a Florida resident.
According to the Cuban government, the confrontation involved a vessel registered in Florida and Cuban Border Guard troops. Officials reported that four people were k!lléd and six others were injured during the incident. The circumstances surrounding the encounter remain under review.
Family members confirmed that one of the deceased was Michel Ortega Casanova. Born in Cuba, Ortega Casanova later immigrated to the United States in the 1980s and settled in Lakeland, near Tampa, Florida.
The Tampa-based organization Casa Cuba described him on social media as a supporter of Cuban political causes. His wife confirmed his death to Telemundo 51 but declined to provide further public comment.
A relative, Misael Ortega Casanova, expressed grief over the loss and called for an end to the ongoing conflict. He extended condolences to the other families affected by the incident.
Cuban authorities have also released the names of several passengers who were detained following the confrontation. They include Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
Consuegra has reportedly denied involvement in the events during an interview with NBC6 in Miami.
Officials on both sides have not released additional details about the events leading up to the shooting. The situation remains under investigation, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
