# 4 killed, 6 injured in boat shootout, Cuban government says **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 25, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977 "2026-02-25T22:31:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/1 "2026-02-25T22:31:36Z")
Breaking news, apparently 4 people were killed and 6 injured on a Florida registered boat that violated Cuban territorial waters and got into a firefight with the Cuban Navy. [https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/four-killed-cuba-shootout-9.7105978](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/four-killed-cuba-shootout-9.7105978) I’m not seeing any reporting from US sources yet. It came up on my ground news subscription, and I though that it might become significant. There aren’t any details on who the people were, and what they were up to, but I put this in the pit because I am about to make a prediction. They were MAGAnuts who thought that their affiliation with Trump would render them invulnerable to the consequences of their absolute stupidity. I look forward to learning more about the story as it develops. I anticipate some sweet sweet schadenfreude. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/2 "2026-02-25T22:36:36Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > I;m not seeing any reporting from US sources yet. It has been on CNN for a bit. > **[Cuban forces kill four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/25/americas/cuba-florida-speedboat-intl-latam)** > > Four people in a Florida-registered speedboat were killed by Cuban forces Wednesday morning, Cuba’s interior ministry said. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/3 "2026-02-25T22:39:25Z")
Heck, if it is OK for the US to kill boaters near Venezuela, I can’t imagine what complaint the administration would have about this. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/4 "2026-02-25T22:44:42Z")
I think that if you take your boat into another country and get into a _gunfight_ with that country’s navy, you should not be surprised that you find yourself being blown to bits. ETA: This American (me) will believe the American version of this, from this current administration, when pugs fly. ETA ETA: Typo retained. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/5 "2026-02-25T22:52:01Z")
Offered without comment: > **[https://external-preview.redd.it/htP8SXcL-gVv\_mei5LSwU8hZIjk-wR24XBStpThE7jU.jpg...](https://external-preview.redd.it/htP8SXcL-gVv_mei5LSwU8hZIjk-wR24XBStpThE7jU.jpg?auto=webp&s=879aee83dc3c2363fc6f4e193808a93016694c4b)** ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/6 "2026-02-25T22:52:49Z")
Yeah! ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/7 "2026-02-25T22:52:55Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Heck, if it is OK for the US to kill boaters near Venezuela, I can’t imagine what complaint the administration would have about this. Cuba just has to assert they were drug smugglers and all will be hunky dory! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/8 "2026-02-25T23:01:49Z")
They probably were… ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/9 "2026-02-25T23:02:12Z")
What is this, the Bay of Pugs? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/10 "2026-02-25T23:04:29Z")
Pugs in Spaaaaaaace! ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/11 "2026-02-25T23:08:24Z")
I remember a cartoon from the early 60’s by Bill Mauldin that showed a ragged looking soldier standing in the Miami airport making a phone call, and the caption was, “Hello Pentagon. Where the hell was our air cover?” I suspect that the survivors of the boat shootout might express a similar sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/12 "2026-02-26T01:00:15Z")
It is apparently not particularly unprecedented. From [the Guardian article](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/25/cuba-says-border-guards-killed-four-gunmen-on-us-registered-speedboat)… > The scattered keys offshore are highly militarised as it is a common spot for Cubans seeking to escape to the US to launch their rafts, and also for people smugglers to land in fast boats. > > There were several incidents in 2022, at the height of Cuba’s migration crisis. In June of that year, off Bahía Honda to Havana’s west, Cuban officials said they returned fire against a trafficking boat, killing one. That October, survivors said their boat was rammed by the coast guard nearby. Seven migrants died, including a two-year-old girl, Elizabeth Meizoso Good of the Guardian to mention that, it puts a whole different spin on the story (and rather crap that CNN, etc. did not) ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/13 "2026-02-26T01:07:35Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > I suspect that the survivors of the boat shootout might express a similar sentiment Yeah my first thought was really that’s what the CIA has come up with? The same plan of sending a too small group of Cuban emigres on a suicide mission against the Cuban military? Cos that worked so well last time. Though as I mention above, this seems just as likely to be smugglers running into trigger happy Cuban border patrol (who are I’m sure at threat level “Bay of Pigs”) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/14 "2026-02-26T01:15:07Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Though as I mention above, this seems just as likely to be smugglers running into trigger happy Cuban border patrol (who are I’m sure at threat level “Bay of Pigs”) My bet’s on this. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/15 "2026-02-26T17:47:53Z")
Some more information from the BBC this time. I’m still not seeing a lot of reporting from US sources. > **[Cuba says group shot on US-registered speedboat planned 'armed infiltration'](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24drvj8yl2o)** > > The passengers were Cuban nationals living in the US, the Cuban government says. From the article: > The Cuban authorities said they had established that all 10 of those on board the speedboat were Cuban nationals residing in the US. > They also identified an 11th person they said had been arrested and had confessed to being part of the alleged plot. > The Cuban authorities added that most of them had “prior records involving criminal and violent activity”. > Handguns, assault rifles and improvised explosive devices were recovered from the speedboat, along with other tactical gear, according to the statement. It’s looking like Rubio can’t even do the Bay of Pigs right. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/16 "2026-02-26T17:55:38Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > It’s looking like Rubio can’t even do the Bay of Pigs right. I think they were just self-deporting. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/17 "2026-02-26T19:03:51Z")
From this plane of existence apparently. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/18 "2026-02-26T19:14:31Z")
Now I’m wondering how the malignant violence-prone morons currently running the US government are going to respond to this, as they’d love a pretext to ramp up hostilities with Cuba. No doubt in their minds these will be innocent American boaters just out for a cruise, much like the “tourists” at the US Capitol on Jan 6. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/19 "2026-02-26T19:41:04Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > can’t even do the Bay of Pigs right. Bay of Piglets. Bay of “Quiet Piggys!” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977/20 "2026-02-26T19:47:57Z")
CNN is still not reporting this but the CBC article is credible and is reporting on Rubio’s reaction. L’il Marco is basically saying they’re not going to believe the Cubans but will gather “their own facts” and “act accordingly”. I guess just like they had “their own facts” about what happened in Minneapolis. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-killed-6-injured-in-boat-shootout-cuban-government-says/1027977.md?page=2)