Two Journalists and a Police Officer Killed in Haiti Hospital Reopening Gang Ambush

December 24, 2024 – Haiti –

armed gang members attacked journalists and police at the reopening ceremony of Port-au-Prince’s State University Hospital (HUEH). The attempt to resume services at Haiti’s largest public hospital ended in bloodshed. As reporters and a police officer gathered to cover the event, gunmen opened fire from outside the venue. According to multiple sources, two journalists—Jimmy Jean (44) and Markenzy Nathoux—were killed, along with one police officer; at least seven more journalists were injured.

Jimmy Jean, a respected father of six who reported for the online outlet Moun Afe Bon, was buried on January 16, 2025, as mourners expressed grief and anger at the government’s inability to protect press workers. Nathoux’s funeral followed in mid-January, prompting dozens of journalists to demand accountability for the killings.

Haitian authorities, including the transitional presidential council, condemned the attack, promising that perpetrators would be brought to justice. But deep-rooted gang power in Port‑au‑Prince—where they control much of the city—continues to make journalists, police, and civilians vulnerable. The incident took place in the context of a broader surge in gang violence: UNICEF and UN reports indicated over 5,600 deaths in 2024, with targeted attacks on hospitals and media workers, and nearly seven hundred thousand people displaced.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also condemned the killings, calling on Haitian authorities to ensure journalists can safely do their jobs and urging investigations into the crime.

This ambush starkly illustrates how gang violence in Haiti has escalated into a direct threat to press freedom. Journalists continue to report amid fear, with some facing injury or worse. In a city where gangs defy state control, the tragedy at HUEH sends a chilling message: cover the news at your peril.

Global news organizations and press-freedom advocates are urging Haitian authorities and international partners to implement protective measures for journalists and restore accountability in a country where the truth itself risks being silenced.

Reference – 

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20241225-two-reporters-police-officer-killed-gang-attack-haiti-main-hospital

Gang attack on Haitian hospital reopening kills 2 reporters and police officer

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article297549658.html