Cuba Says Man Involved In Boat Shootout Off Its Coast Has Died Of His Injuries

Cuba's Interior Ministry said that one of the U.S.-based men involved in a boat shootout off the country's coast last week died as a result of his injuries while under arrest.

In a message posted on social media, Cuban authorities said the remaining detainees "continue receiving specialized medical assistance in accordance to their cases," but "Roberto Alvarez Avila died on March 4 as a result of injuries sustained" in the shootout.

Those still under custody are facing terrorism charges in the country, with authorities saying they attempted to infiltrate the island by boat carrying weapons and explosives. Under Cuban law, such offenses can carry the death penalty or life in prison.

Cuba's Office of the Attorney General said this week that the defendants have been formally charged with terrorism in connection with the Feb. 25 incident and will remain in pretrial detention while the investigation continues.

The office added in a statement that prosecutors will ensure "compliance with due process" as the case moves forward.

The case stems from what Cuban authorities described as an attempted armed infiltration along the northern coast of Villa Clara province. According to the original statement by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior on the day of the incident, a speedboat registered in Florida was intercepted by border guard forces near the El Pino channel at Cayo Falcones after it allegedly attacked a patrol vessel.

Officials said the boat carried 10 armed individuals who, based on preliminary questioning of those detained, intended to carry out "an infiltration for terrorist purposes." Authorities reported seizing assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, body armor, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms.

In a separate statement, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessel had departed from the United States and that Havana had communicated with U.S. authorities, including the State Department and the U.S. Coast Guard, about the incident. The ministry said the Cuban government is willing to exchange information with the United States as part of the investigation. It later claimed that U.S. authorities have shown willingness to cooperate with the investigation.

Cuban officials have also said that two of the detainees were previously included on Cuba's national list of individuals accused of involvement in terrorist activities.