Andrew Morales, the Cuban influencer known as "Cuban Tarzan," is facing criminal charges in Miami-Dade County after appearing in a viral video showing several men repeatedly shooting at an alligator in the Florida Everglades.
The incident, which occurred on March 26 in the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, also involves the controversial influencer Clavicular (Braden Eric Peters) and Yabdiel Aníbal Cotto Torres, known as "Baby Alien."
The charges were filed by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office on April 29 against the three men.
They are all facing a first-degree misdemeanor for illegal discharge of a firearm in a public place, which carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.
The video that sparked the investigation
The incident was broadcast live by Clavicular on the Kick platform. The footage shows three men aboard a hovercraft firing more than a dozen times at the animal.
In the video, Peters can be heard asking, "Is he dead? Then, can we shoot him?" and after the gunshots, stating, "Yes, he is definitely dead."
Morales laughs as he comments that Peters "just wants to shoot at something" and that "he's itching to pull the trigger."
Hours after the video went viral, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted on X that it was "aware of a video showing people in the Everglades on an airboat who appear to be shooting at an alligator" and that its agents were investigating the incident.
The defense of the accused
Morales' lawyer, Richard L. Cooper, urged the public not to "rush to judgment."
"There are no allegations that any animal was injured, and the available evidence does not support the sensationalist narrative that has been circulating online. My client relied on information and guidance provided by authoritative individuals and had no criminal intent," he stated.
Peters' lawyers issued a statement in similar terms: "Our client has been summoned to appear for a misdemeanor charge stemming from following the instructions of a licensed airboat guide. Neither animals nor people were harmed. We trust that when the full picture is understood, people will see this for what it is."
The "Cuban Tarzan": From Environmental Hero to Accused
The case is particularly striking in the instance of Morales, a 22-year-old Cuban residing in South Florida who had built his reputation on an image of respect for nature.
His videos capturing green iguanas -an invasive species- with bare hands in Miami-Dade canals and the Everglades have accumulated over 70 million views across various platforms.
The Cuban had always argued that his activity was an environmental service: "I don’t do it for fame or money, I do it because the iguanas are destroying the vegetation and I want to do my part."
This history directly contrasts with the episode of the alligator, a protected animal in a wildlife management area. Unlike iguanas, the hunting and harassment of alligators are strictly regulated in Florida and are only permitted through specific permits during regulated seasons.
Clavicular, with multiple fronts open
The alligator incident is not the only recent controversy surrounding Clavicular.
The same month as the shooting, he was arrested in Fort Lauderdale on charges of assault related to a fight between his girlfriend and another influencer at a rented house in Kissimmee. In April, he was hospitalized following an apparent overdose while live streaming from a nightclub in Miami, and YouTube suspended two of his channels.
The Lieutenant Governor of Florida, Jay Collins, reacted strongly from the outset: "Florida's wildlife and waterways deserve respect, not to be exploited for content generation. Under my supervision, anyone who mistreats wildlife in the state will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
The reading of charges hearing for the three accused is scheduled for May 20.
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