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The name of Michel Ortega Casanova has been confirmed as one of the four Cubans who died in the confrontation that occurred on Wednesday between a civilian vessel and military forces in the northeastern area of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara.
According to various sources revealed to journalist Daniel Benítez on Facebook, he had been in the United States for a short time.
"The identities of the other three deceased have not yet been revealed," Benítez specified.
The organization Casa Cuba of Tampa described Ortega Casanova as "a patriot, a man committed to the cause of freedom and a member of the Cuban Republican Party."
Casa Cuba of Tampa declared three days of mourning, with flags at half-mast, reported on Facebook by journalist Alexis Boentes from Telemundo 51.
For his part, journalist Javier Díaz from Univisión confirmed that the deceased resided in Tampa.
In a video, Díaz warned about the slanders and manipulations of the Cuban regime regarding the armed incident that occurred in Cayo Falcones.
"Those who went to Cuba are not terrorists," he stated. "They went to liberate our country."
The reporter explained that there were several groups in Miami that had been training for several months to carry out a strategic operation in Cuba.
"It appears they got ahead of themselves, failing to plan for certain situations, and as a result, we have to address this regrettable error, the confrontation with the Cuban authorities, in which at least four of them lost their lives and six are recovering in the hospital," he added.
Background of the shooting
The Cuban government released on Wednesday the names of those involved in the armed incident that took place in the northeast area of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones.
According to an informational expansion released by the Ministry of the Interior, the fast boat registered in Florida FL7726SH was carrying 10 armed individuals who, according to preliminary statements from those detained, intended to enter the national territory with "terrorist purposes."
The authorities reported the arrest of Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
Among the deceased is Michel Ortega Casanova, while efforts are ongoing to identify the other three individuals who died during the confrontation.
The official statement indicates that all those involved are Cubans residing in the United States and that some have criminal records. It also noted that two of the detainees appeared on national lists related to prior criminal investigations.
During the operation, the authorities reported the seizure of assault rifles, handguns, homemade incendiary devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms.
The Ministry of the Interior also reported the arrest in Cuban territory of Duniel Hernández Santos, who is linked to the reception of the group.
Investigations are ongoing, according to the official statement, for the complete clarification of the events.
Additionally, the names of Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez appear on the list that the Cuban regime updated last July and submitted to the UN as part of its national register of individuals deemed terrorists.
In that update, the authorities included 62 individuals and 20 entities based abroad, mostly in the United States, whom they accuse of promoting, financing, or organizing actions against the Cuban state, and whose alleged impunity in US territory has been denounced by Havana.
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