A young missionary couple from the United States, David and Natalie Lloyd, along with the mission group’s country director, were tragically murdered by a Haitian gang in Haiti. The devastating news was shared by Missions in Haiti, Inc., an Oklahoma-based ministry, on their Facebook page.
The group explained that the Lloyds and Jude were ambushed by a gang of three trucks full of armed men as they were leaving a church event. David was tied up, beaten, and the gang took their trucks and belongings before another gang arrived, leading to a violent attack.
The Lloyds and Jude sought refuge in a nearby house, but the gang continued to open fire, shooting out all the windows. Despite efforts to seek help and safety, the situation escalated, leading to the tragic deaths of the young missionary couple.
Alicia Lloyd, who co-founded Missions in Haiti with her husband, confirmed the heartbreaking news to NBC News, revealing that her son had called her during the attack. The murders come amidst a backdrop of rampant gang violence in Haiti following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has described Haiti’s situation as a “cataclysmic situation” with deep political instability, corruption, and escalating gang violence. The tragic deaths of the Lloyds and Jude serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by missionaries and the ongoing challenges in Haiti.