Neosho missionary couple killed in Haitian gang violence

May 24—NEOSHO, Mo. — Two Neosho missionaries were among three people shot and killed by gangs in Haiti on Thursday night.

Two of the victims have been identified as a married couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, according to Natalie's father, Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho.

The couple were serving as missionaries with the Claremore, Oklahoma-based group Missions in Haiti Inc. Davy Lloyd was the son of the founders of Missions in Haiti, David and Alicia Lloyd.

A post on the Missions in Haiti Facebook page said the Lloyds were leaving with a group of children when they were ambushed by a gang of three truckloads of men.

According to the post, Davy was taken into a house, tied up and beaten, then the gang took the Missions trucks and anything else they wanted.

"Another gang came after to see what was going on and if they could help, so they say," the post continued. "No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode."

The couple and a third person, as yet unidentified, were holed up in the house, using an internet-based phone to seek help, but gangs continued to fire on the house.

Three hours later a Missions in Haiti Facebook post said the Lloyds and a third person were shot and killed by the gang at about 9 p.m. Haiti time.

"We are all devastated," the post said.

The Globe left a message with an answering machine at the Missions in Haiti headquarters in Claremore, but no one had responded early Friday afternoon.

Ben Baker announced their deaths in a post on his Facebook page at about 1 a.m. Friday.

"My heart is broken in a thousand pieces," Baker said. "I've never felt this kind of pain. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. 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."

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also offered his prayers and condolences in a post on his Facebook page.

"Absolutely heartbreaking news," Parson said on Facebook. "First Lady Teresa Parson and I extend our deepest condolences to Representative Ben Baker and Naomi, their family, and the Lloyd family. Natalie and Davy were two young people sharing peace, comfort, and God's word. In light of this unimaginable, senseless tragedy, we remember the good they offered the world. Our prayers for all who loved them."

In a blog post on the Missions in Haiti website dated January-March 2024, the group talked about the situation in Haiti. They said the humanitarian crisis in the island nation continued to worsen and the group was forced to close its school in early February for two weeks "due to a raging gun battle between two rival gangs that were fighting for control of an area about a half mile from our compound."

On the w eb More information about Missions in Haiti can be found on their website https://www.missions

inhaiti.com or at their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064274396167&locale=sw_KE.