Three Christian missionaries from Missions in Haiti were fatally shot in an ambush by a gang, according to a statement from the Oklahoma-based group on Friday.
The missionaries had sought refuge in a house when the gang attacked the residence around 9 p.m. CDT (0200 GMT) on Thursday, the organization reported in two Facebook posts.
Haiti has been plagued by months of gang violence, leading to a government retreat and a warning from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the country is nearing a failed state status.
This week, Port-au-Prince’s main international airport reopened after nearly three months of closure due to deadly gang-related violence. However, gangs still control much of the capital, and Haiti’s main seaport remains shut.
A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council confirmed the Biden administration was aware of the deaths of U.S. citizens and extended condolences, expressing deep sympathy for the victims’ families.
Missouri State Representative Ben Baker identified his daughter Natalie Lloyd and son-in-law Davy Lloyd as among the deceased. The Lloyds were full-time missionaries, and Davy was the son of the organization’s founders, David and Alicia Lloyd.
The third victim’s identity has not yet been disclosed.
Baker mourned the loss on Facebook, expressing profound grief over the tragic incident.
Missions in Haiti recounted that the Lloyds were leaving a church when they were ambushed by three trucks carrying gang members.
Davy Lloyd was taken to a house, where he was tied up, beaten, and the gang stole the group’s trucks and belongings before leaving.
Another gang arrived at the scene, apparently to assess the situation, but the encounter escalated into a violent attack.
The missionaries managed to contact an organization leader via satellite phone, reporting that their lives were at risk.
