Young missionary couple from Oklahoma killed in brutal gang attack in Haiti
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An Oklahoma-based missionary group says three of their members, including a young American couple, are dead after a gang attack in Haiti.
The three were associated with Missions in Haiti, a missionary group that runs a school outside Port-au-Prince.
Missionary couple David Lloyd III, 23, and Natalie Lloyd, 21, died on Thursday evening after being “shot and killed by the gang,” according to the group’s Facebook page. The missionary group’s Haitian director, 20-year-old Jude Montis, was also killed in the attack.
Earlier Thursday evening, Missions in Haiti posted that the Lloyds and Montis were attacked outside of a church.
“This evening when Davy, Natalie and the kids were coming out of Youth at the church they were ambushed by a gang of 3 trucks full of guys,” the organisation wrote on Facebook. “Davy was taken to the house tied up and beat. The gang then took our trucks and loaded everything up they wanted and left.”
The organization said the Lloyds were able to make phone calls to recount the experience before their cell batteries died.
“They are holed up in there, the gangs has shot all the windows out of the house and continue to shoot,” the organization said, shortly before posting about their deaths. “Their lives are in danger.”
Natalie’s father, Missouri state Representative Ben Baker, posted on Facebook mourning the death of his young daughter and her husband.
“My heart is broken in a thousand pieces,” Mr Baker wrote. “I’ve never felt this kind of pain.”
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the Lloyds’ deaths.
“God bless Davy and Natalie,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Such a tragedy. Haiti is totally out of control. Find the killers NOW!!!”
Since February, Haiti has been facing powerful criminal gangs that now control the capital city. Thousands of people have been injured, killed or forced to flee amid the takeover.
This week, President Joe Biden welcomed Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House for a three-day visit. Kenya is working with the United Nations to deploy forces to Haiti amid this crisis. About 1,000 Kenyan officers will arrive in Haiti in the coming days to help quell the chaos, along with additional forces from several other countries.
