The incident, occurring in a highly sensitive political climate, has led to conflicting reports about the objectives of the boat and the use of lethal force by Cuban border troops.
According to the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, the boat was carrying ten armed individuals with the intention of carrying out a "terrorist infiltration." The island's authorities reported the seizure of an arsenal including assault rifles, Molotov cocktails, and camouflage uniforms, stating that those involved are Cuban residents in the United States with criminal records. However, reports from The New York Times suggest a different motivation: a flotilla attempting to pick up relatives to flee the island.
The reaction in the United States has been swift. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the open-sea shooting as "very unusual" and confirmed the start of an investigation by the Florida Prosecutor's Office. Rubio warned that the US government will respond "appropriately" once the facts are clarified, while maintaining a dialogue channel with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, head of the regime's security detail.
In Miami's exile community, there is absolute outrage. Congressmen Carlos Giménez and María Elvira Salazar have labeled the event a "massacre", demanding a transparent investigation and denouncing the regime's manipulation of reality to protect itself. Opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer warned that leaving this crime unpunished would send a message of weakness in the face of what he considers a provocation from the "Castro-communist tyranny."
This incident tragically coincides with the 30th anniversary of the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes, a historic event that also cost the lives of four exile activists and marked a turning point in bilateral relations.