An Oklahoma-based missionary group working in Haiti’s capital was attacked by a gang on Thursday, killing two Americans and a leader, Missions in Haiti said in a Facebook post.
Haiti Mission operates a school for 450 children, two churches and a children’s home in the Bonrepos community on the northern outskirts of Port-au-Prince, which is controlled by two local gangs, according to the organization’s Facebook page. The independent nonprofit was founded in 2000 by Oklahoma couple David and Alicia Lloyd.
The group said the victims included the founder’s son, David Lloyd III, 23, known as Davy; his wife, Natalie Lloyd, 21; and the group’s Haitian director, Jude Montis, 20. Ms. Lloyd is the daughter of Missouri Representative Ben Baker.
“My heart breaks into a thousand pieces.” Mr. Baker Posted on Facebook. “I have never felt this kind of pain. Most of you know that my daughter David and son-in-law Natalie Lloyd were full-time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by a gang tonight and both were killed. They went to heaven together.”
Unsigned post about missionary groups Facebook page, A member of the group confirmed that the Lloyds were coming out of an area of the mission building when they were ambushed by three trucks full of men.
Mr Lloyd was taken inside and beaten. The gang members then took the group’s vehicle and other belongings and left. But things took a turn when a second gang showed up and one of the members was killed.
“The gang is now in full attack mode,” the group said in a post published before the three were killed.
The Lloyds and the show’s director recounted what happened over the phone, describing how they hid as gang members shot from their windows.
The group said it would send a rescue team and negotiate with the criminal gangs, but then released a tragic update:
“David, Natalie and Jude were shot dead by the gang at around 9pm this evening. We are all devastated.”
Haiti has been plagued by gang attacks since February, when several rival gangs united to fight the government. Hospitals, government buildings, police stations and prisons have been attacked, and thousands of prisoners have been released.
The crisis forced the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was abroad and unable to return home. A transitional council was appointed to manage the shaky government while the United States helped organize the deployment of police and soldiers from multiple countries, led by Kenya, to fight gangs. The mission is expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Gang violence has spread to unprecedented levels since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. According to the United Nations, more than 2,500 people were killed or injured in the first three months of 2024 alone.
A spokesman for Haiti’s National Police said he was not aware of the specific details of the killings.
