On the 25th (local time), a shootout broke out between Cuban soldiers and a U.S. speedboat in Cuba's territorial waters, leaving four people dead.
According to the Associated Press and others, Cuba's Interior Ministry said in a statement, "This morning, one illegal speedboat entered our territorial waters," and "the people on the speedboat opened fire on our border guard soldiers who approached by a patrol boat to verify their identities."
The Interior Ministry said the U.S. speedboat approached waters near Corralillo in central Villa Clara province, and when a Cuban border guard moved in on the speedboat for identification, those on board opened fire at the Cuban forces, prompting return fire.
In the exchange, four people were killed and six were injured. The dead were reported to be people on the speedboat. Cuban authorities said the speedboat was the "Florida-registered vessel FL7726SH."
The AP said that while minor run-ins between the Cuban Coast Guard and U.S.-flagged speedboats operating in Cuban waters are not uncommon, there had not been recent incidents involving gunfire or deaths. The latest incident could further heighten tensions between the United States and Cuba.
Carlos Gimenez, a Republican representative from Florida, called the incident a "massacre" and demanded an immediate investigation. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also said, "The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything we can to hold the communists accountable," and instructed the state Prosecution Service to investigate the shooting.