Three Bay Area Men Killed in Boat Shootout with Cuban Military

Two Tampa men and one Clearwater man died after their boat approached Cuban waters, sparking a deadly confrontation.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Three men from the Tampa Bay area were killed and another was injured after their boat approached the Cuban coast and was fired upon by the Cuban military. The incident was labeled a "terrorist incursion" by the Cuban government, though local anti-communist organizers described the men as "heroes" who were simply seeking to free Cuba from the Castro regime.

Why it matters

The deaths highlight the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, as well as the risks that some Cuban-Americans are willing to take to try to undermine the communist government in Havana. The incident also raises questions about the extent to which anti-Castro groups in Florida are willing to take direct action, even if it means putting their own lives in danger.

The details

According to reports, the boat the men were on encroached upon Cuban waters on Wednesday, leading to a shootout with Cuban officials. Two Tampa men, Michel Ortega Casanova and Leo Gomez, as well as Pavel Alling Pena of Clearwater, were on board. Ortega Casanova and Pena were killed, while Gomez was taken into custody by Cuban authorities.

  • The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • The boat the men were on was reported stolen out of the Florida Keys.

The players

Michel Ortega Casanova

A Tampa resident who was killed in the confrontation with Cuban forces.

Pavel Alling Pena

A 45-year-old Clearwater resident who was also killed in the incident.

Leo Gomez

A Tampa resident who was injured and taken into custody by Cuban authorities.

Casa Cuba de Tampa

A local anti-communist organization that the deceased men had attended meetings of, though the group said they had no prior knowledge of the men's plans.

Angela Chaviano

The president of Casa Cuba de Tampa, who described the deceased men as "heroes" to the organization.

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What they’re saying

“They are heroes to us. Michel's not a terrorist, keeping in mind he's just a real person, a normal person that just wants to have the country free.”

— Angela Chaviano, President, Casa Cuba de Tampa

“It's not that we went into details. I haven't seen Ortega in two months, it was more than maybe five or six months since I saw Leo. Maybe they didn't like it because I told them that it was a suicide mission.”

— Rene Montas de Oca, Vice President, Casa Cuba de Tampa

What’s next

The Cuban and American governments have both said they are investigating the incident, with U.S. officials insisting that Cuba will not be able to "lie" about what they find.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing tensions and risks associated with efforts by some Cuban-Americans to undermine the Castro regime in Cuba, even if it means taking dangerous actions that can result in loss of life.