December 22, 2024
A public transport minibus traveling the Saint-Marc to Port-au-Prince route was riddled with bullets by armed individuals in Montrouis on Monday, December 9, 2024. The attack caused a fatal crash after the driver, Jean Reynald, was killed instantly by a gunshot.
Of the 18 passengers aboard, eight lost their lives—three at the scene and five others en route to a nearby clinic. The wounded, most of whom are in critical condition, were rushed to the Pierre Payen Hospital, where doctors are struggling to stabilize them.
The attack occurred near the Stop-Over gas station, on a stretch of road notorious for gang-related insecurity. Armed groups in the area, often linked to land disputes, continue to erect illegal roadblocks, endangering travelers on National Route 1.
According to Murat Augustin, president of the Syndicate of Drivers and Vehicle Owners in Lower Artibonite, this tragic incident underscores the chronic insecurity plaguing the region. A police patrol arrived at the scene, but no arrests have been reported so far.
This tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of escalating violence, coming just days after a massacre at Wharf Jérémie. As authorities struggle to contain the crisis, residents voice deep concern over the government’s inaction in the face of such deadly attacks.