SHOOTING INCIDENT - CUBAN-AMERICAN FISHERMAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000400030007-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: July 6, 1973
• Content Type: CABLE

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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08001297R000400030007-0
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FROM : Amconsul NASSAU DATE: July 6, 1973
E.011652: N/A
TAGS: CASC, PFOR, BF
SUBJ: Shooting Incident - Cuban-American Fishermen
//0,/gi-lyr?d-4-0-1'
4141.1
Attached is a report by Bahamian police of a shooting incident
among Cuban-American fishermen which occurred June 20, 1973. As
the report notes, since the incident occurred outside Bahamian
territorial waters, local police involvement was confined to
ensuring that a wounded fisherman received medical attention.
This post served as liaison between the U.S. Coast Guard
emergency center in Florida and police officials in Nassau in
transmitting initial information concerning the incident and
advising of Coast Guard medical evacuation activities.
I]nc1.1 - Report by Bahamas Police of shooting incident
FORM
3.70 DS-323
?raft. ty,
POL:WR Salisbury:cjg
umcd.ahSIFIEu
Drafting Date: 'Phone No.:
07/05/73
Contents and Classification Approved by:
CONGEN: MJ Spear
Clear
PLO: RA Fliegel
CON: M Groenewea adt
replied num I will fight seven (7) days a week". Tiis captain of the "COModorou
then told him to get his rifle ar they would not be fighting with their fists.
At the same time, a shot was fired from the "Comodoro" so he gotphis .33 rifle
and fired beck. At the same time, someone on the "Early Bird" started shooting
with an automatic weapon. When the battle was over he noticed that Antonio
Gonzales a crew member on his boat was hit twice in the chest by bullets. He
then left the area for Bimini to get medical help.
4. According to captain Jose the shooting took place sixteen (16) miles East
of Bimini and when the United States Coast Guard arrived all vaiseele had left
, ,
the area of the incident.
S. Statements were recorded from Captain Jose and his craw.
v 6. , This incident occurred well outside of our territorial end,fishiet-erespi ,
and I ordered that all concerned proceed to their home port wherf6ohit-eVer
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08001297R000400030007-0
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08001297R000400030007-0
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114t ROYAL BAHAMAS POkla FORCE
Nassau, Bahamas
HARM, DIVISION
TO: Commissioner of Police through
Deputy Commlasioner of Police.'
Your reference
Out :ifenexe poLdfle , p/040/2
PM! 21st June, 1973
Subject: SHOOTINC INCIDENT -
AMERICAN - CUBAN miramm
On Wednesday, 20th June, 1973 at 71:10 A.m., I accommined by Corporal
Miller and Constable Ferguson left Nassau by Police Aircraft for Bimini to
investigate reports into an alledgeLgun battle involving three (3) heats off
Bimini Island.
2. At 12:08 p.m., we landed at South Bimini where I ,net a United States Coast
Guard Aircraft. I spoke with Lieutenant John McDonald, captain of the Coast
Guard Aircraft who reported to me that two (2) injured American Cuban fishermen
had been airlifted by one of their helicopter from cpe of two (2) American
fishing vessels which was then on & bearing 064 and nine (9) miles of
He said that the third vessel had just arrived at Bimini and they were standing
by to airlift a third man that was reported to be on tbe vessel that entered
Bimini.
3. The Lieutenant and my party went to northern- Bimini where I saw the fishing
vessel La-Guajra'F971A-SA.C.135 tied up at the government pier. I epoke with
the captain who gave his name as Jose Antonio Maeuerie of 101 South West 25
Road, Florida, who told me that one of his crew was injured and was presently
being treated at the Government Clinic. He further stated that on Saturday,
,, 16th June, 1973 he with a crew of three (3) left Miami to fish and collect
two-hundred (206) fish traps that they put down in the area of Mackey Shoal.
When they got in the area where their fish traps were surposed to be, they
found that all were missing. In the area they found the fishing vessel '
"Comodore also out of Florida with a few of their merkers on her deck. He
went alongside the "Comodore and boarded her after accusine the captain of
removing his fish traps. After an argument between the two captains they
agreed to have a fist fieht. After the fist fight, he went back an his vessel
and decided to follow the "Comodoro" where ever it went in the hope of locdting
his fish pots. This went on through Wednesday, 20th June, 1973 when at about
8:00 a.m., the "Comodoro" who had steamed toward the Isaacs returned accompained
by another Florida fishing vessel "Early Bird." The captain of the "Camodoro"
asked him if he had found his fish pots to which he replied no. The "Early
Bird" and the "Comodoro" then flanked his vessel (ons on either side) and the
captain of the "Comodoro) asked him if he wants to fight again to which be
replied "Sure I will fight seven (7) days a week". The captain of the "Camodoro"
then told him to get his rifle/Let/ley would not be fighting with their fists.
At the same time, a shot was fired from the "Ccmodorou so he got.his .33 rifle
and fired back. At the same time, someone on the "Early Bird" started shooting
with an automatic weapon. When the battle was over he noticed that Antonio '
Gonzales A crew member on his boat was hit twice in the cheat by bullets. He
then left the area for Bimini to get medical help.
4. According to captain Jose the shooting took place sixteen (16) miles Eaet
of Bimini and when the United States Coast Guard artived all veebeld had left
the area of the incident.
S. Statements were recorded from Captain Jose and his crew.
v 6. This incident occurred well outside of our territorial and fishing areas, .
and I ordered that. all concerned proceed to their home port wheis sta$ e'er
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7. I accompained Antonio Gonzales o the Unted States Coest?Aircraft
after he wan treated clt Rimini and he was flown.to the U. S. A., for further.
treatment. I told thP captain of the "La-Guajira" thtt was free to take
his vessel back to the Uhited States.
8. The other two (2) vessels mentioned were alreedy on thoir lany for florid*
under escort of. a CoAst Guard veitsml.
um/ii
Enos.
.40
te-4(1
L. W.1)4ajor,
Merine Assistant ommiesioner of Polite.
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08001297R000400030007-0
Roy41. Bahamas Police Force,
Bimini Division.
2Gth Jure, 1973
NAME: Antonio Gonzales.
ADDRESS: 101 South West, 25 Road, Miami Florida.
AGB: 20 years.
CCCUTITIM: Fisherman.
MIX: Male.
STLTEMENT: I am a fisherman, a crew member on the "La..guajira* along with
three (3) others. Oft Saturday, 16th June, 1973, we left Miami for a fishier'
trip somewhere in the Bahamas where we had our traps down. / don't know what
time we got here in the Bahamas. Sometime around noon on (Monday) Tuesday,
19th June, 1973, while at sea which was about 14 to 1$ miles south east of
Bimini, we met a boat, there by the name of "Comodorn* with about tour (4)
men on it. We notice that this boat had taken up some of our traps we went
towards the boat, where Jose Antonio Magueira went onboard and speak to one
of the men about the traps being on his boat. The man refused to talk so
Jose hit him about twice and he began to talk, he then told us who had all
the traps.
On Wednesday, 20th June, 1973 around 8000 a.m., this same boat and crew along
with another boat and crew came frau north east to where we were, a boat was
on each side. At first everybody began talkingone of than- said that they
are going for their guns, and told us to go for our guns. One of the men at
this time was pointing a gun at us it was a rifle, both boats crews mem
shooting after us, after they started shooting Jose get his gun and began shooting
also during the shootink I got shot in wy left arm and left shoulder blade;
after the shooting I was brought into Bimini miters I had been treated and
discharged. During the shooting two (2) men mere injured by Jose, with a .33
winchester, the other boat was the "Early Bird" this was the first time-
that I had seen these people. We only have one rifle an the-boat4 we had Moat
two-hundred (200) traps down, but we only found twestv*two (21). T vas tohe
csa, who got the gun noe PM it to 40808 When T Kat *hat I it SWUM NO
beeu Fottlw rrAs 'ha 139110Wit etUfht ea eon VIP itkOM bha glees
tEi444gtShfift k UMW ottohthot fife nh Phil* side of
tho boat, which was caused by guh shntsr
Jose is the captain, but the boat belongs to me, Jose and JosaMenendee the
men that were fighting us are Cubans.
Mit statement is correct.
Signed: Antonio Gone.....
Col. - 20M/73.
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.40
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Royal Bahamas Police Force,
Bimini Diwiai010.
200 Opp, 1.973 .
NAME: Jose Menendez.
ADDRESS: 101 South West, 25 Road, Miami Florida.
AGE: 14 years.
OCCUPATICK: Student.
SEX: Male
STATEMENT: On Wednesday, 20th June, 1973 at about 8100 a.m.O.woke up out
of sleep. I heard a lot of shooting. ? / then made an attempt to go up On the
boat deck, my father then told me to stay down in the cabin. Mytother Dias
is Menendez L Jcee I then stayed down in the cabin. I do not know any thAlel
else what happen. The boat I am on name La-Ouajira.
This statement is true and correct.
Signed: Jove Manead00.2-113
Jose L. siaaudea 04 father's
name.
Cpl. 495,161118w*.
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. Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08001297R000400030007-0
?..cyal Bahama? Pollee Forme,
Bimini Division.
20th June, 1973
NM: Jose Antonio Maggeirg,
MEM ?la South Went, 25 Roads Miami Florida.
AGRI 33 years.
ODCWITICM: Fisherman.
SEX: Male.
1010141?11MP
STATEMENT: I Jose Antonio Magueira wish to maks a statement Sp comma:Wm
with a shooting incident.
Signed!. S. Misign?pla.
On saturday, 16th June 1973, I left Miami Limy beat " r.5171 Aa4
0,135 with a crew of three to fish between Mickey Shoal an
Om Tuesday, 19th June, 1973 I was South East off Binini Islamd.eben another
fishing boat by the nese of "Caaodoro" came by and I discovered that he hid
same of my fish pots. I went onboard the seneadoroa and told the !apt** that
he had stolen gy fish traps. We then had a fight and then we 100erated.
At about 8,00 a.m. todays date, the "Conoderos epee beak to 10:40041mOirthis
time there was another boat along with it, by the nem of elsaritirde.
The captain of the "ComMoramasked me if I want to follow hie to the Isaftes
and I told hien?. He then asked me if I wanted to fight with hind. Or Sklik.
I told his that I would fight him with hands or guns. By this time or beat.
was between the two (2) mentioned boats, and I on, am ma* on the "Omoderoe
with a gun in his hand. Ne fired a shot and I ducked. I them gat gy 4.33 rolip
and fired back. Both boats were shooting at my beat and one Of *gramma
hit in the chest. After the shooting had stepped' I came to 100:40$ to get
medical assistant for sr14.1Wed arm. I cannot say if amyese-00-lhe other
boats got hit by my bullets.
.0
The shooting took place about fifteen to tun:tar:wiles from East Bimini.
suspected the captains of the "Early Bird* and the seenadoree for stealing
too-hundred (200 army fish pots and that is the reason for me Pionhtiagi
Apparently ay boat was not hit by ow bullets.. The man on the *Snairitird"
was using an automatic weapon.
!batboys statement was read over to as and it is true and correct.
Signed: A.NeS"drat
W. Ilaslor taw pos.
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Roy.). Bahamas Police Force,
Slmiri Division.
20th June, 1973
NAME: Menendez L. Jose.
ADDRESS: 101 South best, 25 Rod, 'and. Florida.
AGE: 44 years.
CMPATION: Fisherman.
SEX: Male.
MEM On ,Wednesday, 20th June, 1973 at about 8:00 .am., two (2) OUban,
'bite came alongside the boat I vas on. The people alt the two (2) boats told
as to take out our guns, because they are going to ficht. The two. (2) boats
began to shmt at our boat. We hems to shoot beck at them. We kept an going
from the two (2) boats and shooting at them *tile they was sh004410,904pt
us. One of our men by the name of Antonio Gonzales got Opt in hil,ckmet.
Antonio only got shot once. We then kept on shooting at .the two hoeteN,Cke
do not know whether anyone on the other boats gotnhot or not, 40enn41e
on the boat I was on got hurt.
When the shooting start, we was about Wel!, pl) to toUltoe4,140.1:4414f
from Bimini. I do not know any of the men an the two (2),o000,.bosts4at
was shooting at us. I cannot till at present whether ihtimmgtmas dame or
not. The captain of my boat Jose Magueira went over to one of thegoth0do *tot
204at
an Tuesday, 19th June, 1973 and talk to the pion:Won the said. botte,I
know what the captain told the men on the said boat.
This statement is true and correct.
? al
Signe0
2z?149 Wa3.C't
Further stated, the eald boat I am one of the crew, name Itled3eajiral.
This statement is tree and correct.
Signeds Jae. ?jaw:
c lit.222,
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