A tragic incident occurred in Haiti’s capital involving an Oklahoma-based missionary group on Thursday. The organization, Missions in Haiti, was attacked by gangs, resulting in the deaths of two Americans and the group’s director. Missions in Haiti, founded by David and Alicia Lloyd in 2000, operates a school for 450 children, two churches, and a children’s home in the Bon Repos neighborhood in the northern outskirts of Port-au-Prince. The victims were identified as David Lloyd III, 23, known as Davy; his wife, Natalie Lloyd, 21; and the group’s Haitian director, Jude Montis, 20.
The tragic news was announced on Facebook by Missions in Haiti, with the victims identified as the founders’ son and his wife along with the organization’s director. Natalie Lloyd, the daughter of Missouri state representative Ben Baker, was among the victims. In a heartbreaking post on Facebook, Mr. Baker expressed his devastation over the loss of his daughter and son-in-law. The attack occurred when the Lloyds were coming out of a section of the mission’s building and were ambushed by three trucks full of men. Mr. Lloyd was reportedly taken inside and beaten before the gang members took the organization’s vehicles and other items and left.
After being attacked by one gang, a second gang arrived at the scene, prompting a more violent response. The victims were able to make phone calls during the ordeal, describing the attack as it unfolded, with gang members shooting through the windows. The organization initially planned to send a rescue mission and negotiate with the gangs, but tragically, a post confirmed that Davy, Natalie, and Jude were shot and killed by the gang around 9 o’clock that evening. The entire organization was left devastated by the loss of the young missionaries and their Haitian colleague.
Haiti has been experiencing widespread gang violence since February, when several gangs joined forces to fight the government. This crisis led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the appointment of a transitional council to manage the government while international support was mobilized to combat the gangs. The situation worsened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with over 2,500 people killed or injured in the first three months of 2024 alone, according to the United Nations. The deployment of police and soldiers from multiple countries, led by Kenya, is expected to arrive in Haiti in the coming weeks to address the escalating gang violence.
The tragic attack on the missionary group in Haiti highlights the dangerous security situation in the country, with gangs targeting both locals and foreigners. The loss of Davy, Natalie, and Jude has left their families and the Mission in Haiti organization devastated, as they mourn the lives of those dedicated to serving the Haitian community. The international community has responded to the crisis in Haiti by organizing a multinational effort to combat the gangs and restore stability to the country. The ongoing violence in Haiti underscores the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and security measures to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further loss of life.
