Haiti Bandits Open Fire at Hospital Reopening, Killing Two Journalists
Gunfire erupted at a hospital reopening in Haiti, resulting in the deaths of two journalists and a police officer, raising concerns over safety.
Haiti, Port-au-Prince, Journalists, Gang Violence, Hospital Shooting
Port-au-Prince: It was a chaotic scene when gang members opened fire during the reopening of the main hospital in Haiti’s capital. Sadly, two journalists and a police officer lost their lives in the attack.
The journalists, Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean, were shot while covering the event at the State University of Haiti Hospital. Robest Dimanche, a spokesperson for Haiti’s online media association, confirmed the tragic news.
Several other journalists were injured and taken to a different clinic for treatment. The police also reported the death of an officer, Lionel Lazarre.
This hospital, known as General Hospital, had been closed since February due to a previous attack by the same gang coalition, Vivre Ensemble. Authorities had promised to reopen it just in time for Christmas, but the celebration turned into a nightmare.
As journalists gathered to report on the reopening, gunfire erupted. A video shared online showed the horrifying aftermath, with lifeless bodies on stretchers, one of them wearing a press lanyard.
Local news outlet Gazette Haiti reported on the chaos, stating that journalists were injured during the attack by the Vivre Ensemble gang. The scene was described as one of total panic.
Leslie Voltaire, the president of Haiti’s transitional ruling council, condemned the shooting as “unacceptable” and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. He assured that there would be consequences for this attack.
Street gangs have a tight grip on Port-au-Prince, often engaging in random mass killings and turf wars. Just last week, members of the Vivre Ensemble gang set fire to another clinic, causing significant damage but thankfully no injuries.
This incident is just the latest in a series of violent events in the capital, where gang-related violence has surged in recent weeks. In early December, nearly 200 people were killed in a massacre led by a notorious gang leader.
Despite a multinational mission aimed at supporting Haitian police, the violence continues unabated. The situation has become so dire that the capital’s airport was closed to commercial flights after planes were shot at.