US missionaries killed in Haiti gang violence

A US missionary couple were among three people reportedly killed in Haiti as widespread gang violence continues to plague the country.

The dead Americans have been identified as Natalie and Davy Lloyd, both full-time missionaries who were wed in 2022.

According to their organisation, the couple was ambushed by several trucks of gunmen as they left a local church.

Gangs still control much of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, forcing thousands to flee their homes in recent weeks.

Their deaths were confirmed on Facebook by Natalie's father, Missouri State Senator Ben Baker.

"They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed," he wrote. "They went to heaven together."

Their non-profit, Missions in Haiti Inc, confirmed the incident took place and said that a third person - so far identified only by his first name, Jude - was also killed.

In a previous Facebook post overnight, the organisation that that the three were trapped in a house and were attempting to call for help under fire after being attacked by gunmen in three trucks.

"They are holed up in there, the gangs have shot all the windows out of the house and continue to shoot," the post said. "

Three hours later, the group confirmed that all three were dead.

The State department is aware of the deaths, a spokesperson told the BBC's US partner CBS.

"We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss," the spokesperson said. "We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance."

On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Missouri Governor Mike Parson paid tribute to the couple, calling it "absolutely heartbreaking news".

In a similar incident in 2021, 17 North American missionaries were kidnapped and held east of Port-au-Prince.

Five were released and 12 ultimately escaped their captors, using stars for navigation to trek through dense bush.

The group involved in the latest incident, Missions in Haiti, has been operating in the country since 2000, and is largely focused on helping Haitian children.

For weeks, gangs had been carrying out deadly co-ordinated attacks, demanding the resignation of the then Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

He agreed to step down in March. Nine members of the transitional council have now been sworn in to lead the country.

But the gangs have capitalised on the power vacuum left by Mr Henry's exit and expanded their control over large swathes of the country.

Kenya is due to deploy police forces to Haiti at the head of an international force aimed at helping the country's transitional authorities restore order.

Earlier this week, the UN children's agency, Unicef, warned that the violence and widespread malnutrition have brought Haiti's health system to "the verge of collapse".