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A group of Cuban exile activists in Miami paid tribute to Ledián Padrón Guevara this past Tuesday, June 24, a date on which the young man from Camagüey would have turned 25, four months after being shot down by the Border Guard Troops of the Cuban regime off the coast of Villa Clara.
The event was organized by the Democratic Party 30th of November and the Cuban Shield Movement, and took place on the rocky shore of Miami Bay, where attendees placed flowers, candles, and a framed portrait of the young man. The post detailing the tribute was shared on Facebook by Mary Lugo.
During the ceremony, the organizers established a phone call with Ledián's grandmother, who resides in Cuba. According to Lugo, the woman "expressed her gratitude in tears and sobs for this initiative." The young man's father was also present at the event in Miami and appeared "very moved and thankful."
"A heartfelt and moving tribute to the youngest of our martyrs, who was viciously murdered and would have turned 25 today," Lugo wrote in his post.
Ledián Padrón Guevara was the youngest of the four men shot dead on February 25, 2026, when a vessel registered in Florida was intercepted by Cuban border guards off Cayo Falcones in the municipality of Corralillo. The other three deceased were Pavel Alling Peña, Michel Ortega Casanova, and Héctor Duani Cruz Correa. Days later, a fifth man, Roberto Álvarez, died in the hospital due to complications, bringing the total number of fatalities to five.
Born in Camagüey, Ledián had lived between Houston and Miami. According to testimonies gathered by journalist Javier Díaz from Univision 23, the group is said to have organized through TikTok and conducted training on a farm in South Florida with the aim of acting against the Cuban regime.
After her death, the family faced a new affront: the Cuban authorities cremated the body without family consent, forcing them to hold a funeral without the deceased. Activist Niurka Préstamo publicly denounced the incident, describing a small altar with photographs, flowers, candles, and an urn.
His wife Madelaine, in telephone statements to Telemundo 51, pleaded through tears: “Justice, justice, justice, that he is not a terrorist.” The family has consistently rejected the label of “terrorists” that the Cuban government placed on the deceased.
"Congratulations to the heavens, Ledián Padrón; the homeland looks upon you with pride. We continue the fight now with more reasons," concluded Mary Lugo in her post.
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