Florida AG announces arrest warrant for Raúl Castro in 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown

As of 11:09 a.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday, Oct. 19, announced a Florida arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, according to a post on Uthmeier's official X account.

"AG James Uthmeier Announces Florida Arrest Warrant for Raúl Castro for Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder," the post said at 10:14 a.m. ET. The post linked to an X broadcast of the announcement.

In a written news release, Uthmeier's office said the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement secured the warrant, which charges Castro with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, a first-degree felony. The court ordered no bond, and the warrant was signed by Chief Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, the release said. The case remains active and further charges are possible, according to the release.

The warrant is a no-bond arrest warrant, according to WSVN and Fox News; WSVN reported that it was signed by a Miami-Dade County judge. It relates to the Feb. 24, 1996, shootdown of two planes operated by the Miami-based group Brothers to the Rescue, Fox News and WSVN reported. Four men — Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, Pablo Morales and Carlos Costa — were killed, WSVN reported.

NBC 6 Miami reported that the warrant was signed by Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan of Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit. Fox News, citing the warrant, reported that a judge found probable cause to believe Castro conspired to commit first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of the four men aboard the civilian aircraft.

WSVN reported that the warrant said spies were transmitting flight data and surveilling Naval Air Station Key West, and that officials said there was probable cause to believe a conspiracy took place in Florida. The warrant indicated that state authorities would seek extradition of Castro if he is arrested outside Florida, WSVN and Fox News reported.

Castro, now 95, already faces a separate federal prosecution over the same shootdown, WSVN and Fox News reported. NBC 6 Miami reported that Castro was indicted by the United States on May 20, 2026, for his alleged role in the downing, and that the federal indictment charged Castro and five others with four counts of murder, two counts of destruction of aircraft, and conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals.

Uthmeier announced the warrant at a Monday morning news conference that NBC 6 Miami and WSVN reported would be held at Florida International University. Gov. Ron DeSantis was expected to attend, WSVN and Fox News reported.

Cuba's Foreign Ministry had not addressed the Florida warrant on its website as of 11:09 a.m. ET.