A U.S. missionary couple, including the daughter of Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker (R), and a resident assisting them were killed by gangs in Haiti’s capital.

The couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, were full-time missionaries. Rep. Baker expressed his grief in a Facebook post, saying his heart is broken and asking for prayers for his family and the Lloyd family.

The incident occurred Thursday in northern Port-au-Prince, confirmed by Lionel Lazarre, head of a police union in Haiti. Hannah Cornett, Davy Lloyd’s sister, described how three vehicles with gang members stopped the couple and Jude Montis, the director of missions.Davy Lloyd was struck by a gun barrel, tied up, and had his belongings stolen. When he was being untied, another group of gang members attacked. The couple and Montis were shot when they tried to seek cover in a nearby house.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed condolences and said the U.S. Embassy in Haiti is providing consular assistance to the grieving families.

The violence in Haiti has escalated since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, with gang violence displacing over 362,000 people and killing thousands. The crisis led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in March, leaving a political vacuum.