By In a tragic incident, two American Christian missionaries were killed in Haiti by gang violence on Thursday. The victims, identified as Davy and Natalie Lloyd, were full-time missionaries in Haiti. This devastating news was confirmed by Missouri State Rep. Ben Baker, whose daughter Natalie was among those killed.
According to Missions In Haiti, Inc., the couple was shot and killed at around 9 p.m. The organization detailed the incident in a social media post, explaining that Davy and Natalie, along with several children, were at a youth group gathering at a church when they were ambushed by a gang.
“Davy was taken to the house, tied up, and beaten. The gang then took our trucks, loaded everything they wanted, and left,” the organization stated. Unfortunately, another gang arrived at the scene and began shooting at the house where Davy, Natalie, and an individual named Jude were hiding. Communication was maintained via Starlink satellite internet until the tragic end.
Missouri State Rep. Ben Baker expressed his heartbreak in a Facebook post, stating, “My heart is broken in a thousand pieces. I’ve never felt this kind of pain. They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.”
Missions In Haiti, a nonprofit Christian ministry founded by David and Alicia Lloyd, has been operating in the Caribbean nation since 2000. Davy and his wife Natalie, who joined the mission after their marriage in June 2022, dedicated their lives to the cause.
A family friend, Chris Slinkard, and Missouri State Rep. Dirk Deaton set up a GoFundMe page to support the Baker/Lloyd family. As of Friday afternoon, the fundraiser had raised nearly $10,000 toward a $20,000 goal.
Former President Donald Trump also commented on the tragedy, posting on Truth Social, “God bless Davy and Natalie. Such a tragedy. Haiti is totally out of control. Find the killers NOW!!!”
Haiti, a nation plagued by poverty, natural disasters, and corruption, has experienced escalating turmoil. Since February 29, coordinated gang attacks have led to severe violence, including the burning of police stations, shootings at the main international airport, and the storming of the country’s two largest prisons, resulting in over 4,000 inmates being released.
The violence in Haiti has led to widespread chaos, with at least 1.4 million Haitians on the brink of famine, according to the U.N.’s World Food Program. The gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” ChĂ©rizier and his “G9 Families and Allies” have claimed responsibility for much of the unrest, which has prompted urgent warnings from the U.S. for its citizens to leave Haiti “as soon as possible.”
President Biden’s administration has pledged $300 million to support a multinational force, including 1,000 police officers from Kenya, to help restore order in Haiti. “Haiti is in a very volatile area of the Caribbean,” Biden said at a news conference with Kenyan President William Ruto. “We want to do all we can without us looking like America is stepping over and deciding what must be done.”
The main international airport in Port-au-Prince reopened on Monday for the first time since March, although the seaport remains closed, with gangs controlling 80% of the capital. The U.S. has evacuated hundreds of its citizens by helicopter and flown military planes to assist with the arrival of foreign troops.
Kenya’s foreign affairs principal secretary, Korir Sing’oei, confirmed, “I can tell you for sure that deployment will happen in the next few days, few weeks.”
Source: Foxnews.com
