Clearwater Man Among 4 Killed In Shootout With Cuban Soldiers: Reports

CLEARWATER, FL — A Cuban poet living in Clearwater was among those killed during a Feb. 25 shootout between 10 people on a stolen Florida-registered speedboat loaded with weapons and Cuban soldiers in waters off the island nation's north coast, according to multiple reports.

Pavel Alling Peña was one of four killed in the incident.

Others killed include Michel Ortega Casanova, Ledián Padrón Guevara and Hector Duani Cruz Correa, Cuban officials said.

The six others on the speedboat, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Amijail Sánchez González and Roberto Álvarez Ávila, were injured in the shootout.

A Cuban officer was also injured.

The group, which opened fire on the soldiers who were seeking to identify those onboard the speedboat, was trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism, according to Cuban officials.

Alling Peña, a writer, frequently posted about Cuba’s liberation on social media.

See Also:

• 4 Killed, 7 Injured In Shootout Between FL-Registered Boat Passengers, Cuban Border Guards
• 2 Tampa Men On Boat Involved In Shootout With Cuban Soldiers

“The Castro dynasty stole our freedom and dreams, stole hope and joy. 67 years of irreversible pain and sadness. Separated families, tears, thousands dead at sea and between borders. An empty youth who, seeing no hope, looked to the farthest point of the horizon in search of a better life and freedom. A bad government that told us that everything outside was bad and that they were the good ones. The damage they have done to our people is not paid even in the most terrible circles of hell. But dictatorship is not forever and at this minute it smells of the end. And poor is that soldier who does not put down his arms and worse still shoots at the people, for terror unleashed will be sublime in its rawest expression. Cuba will soon be free. Time has come for those dictators who stole our country. Thanks to all who are committed to this fight and for the effort and willingness. Cuba will be free and we will raise it as God commands. LONG LIVE THE FREEDOM OF OUR PEOPLE. GOD COUNTRY LIFE AND FREEDOM,” he wrote in a Jan. 30 post to his Facebook page.

He also shared AI-generated videos about the island nation’s liberation, including a clip showing a flotilla of vessels with Cuban flags leaving Miami, presumably for Cuba, with a message that said, “Let’s go, exiles,” the Miami Herald reported.

Another AI video showed armed men in camouflage shooting at Cuban police officers and capturing the country’s leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and Cuba’s founder José Martí urging Cubans to rise up, the Herald said.

In another Facebook post from 2022, Alling Peña wrote that he completed his interview for U.S. citizenship, writing “It is an honor to be a citizen of this GREAT country. I’m beyond thrilled and happy for this achievement,” WFLA reported.

A relative told the Herald that Alling Peña’s family hadn’t heard from him in days. A close friend also told the media outlet that his wife believed that he was dead.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.