The slayings occurred as the capital crumbles under the relentless assault of violent gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince while authorities await the arrival of a police force from Kenya as part of a U.N.-backed deployment aimed at quelling gang violence in the troubled Caribbean country.

Two of the victims were a young married couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, according to a Facebook posting from Natalie Lloyd's father, Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker. The name of the third person killed wasn't immediately available. "My heart is broken in a thousand pieces," Baker wrote on Facebook on Thursday. "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."

The couple worked for Missions in Haiti Inc. The Claremore, Oklahoma, organization was founded by David and Alicia Lloyd, Davy Lloyd's parents. Natalie Lloyd's Facebook page said the couple married on June 18, 2022, and she began working with the missionary organization in August 2022. She frequently posted photos of Haitian children on her page.

The mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It runs a school in Lizon for more than 240 students that it opened in September 2008, according to its website. A Facebook posting on the Missions for Haiti page late Thursday stated that Davy and Natalie, along with children, were leaving a church when "they were ambushed by a gang of 3 trucks full of guys."

The posting said Davy Lloyd was taken to a house, where he was tied up and beaten. Another gang showed up as a shooting broke out. The posting said Davy, Natalie and the third person, listed only as Jude, went to a house, but gangs "shot all the windows out of the house and continue to shoot. Their lives are in danger."

Three hours later, another posting from Missions in Haiti read: "Around midnight: Davy and Natalie and Jude were shot and killed by the gang about 9 o'clock this evening. We all are devastated." It wasn't immediately clear which gang or gangs were responsible for the fatal shootings.

However, a gang leader called Chyen Mechan, which means "mean dog" in Haitian Creole, controls the area where the shooting occurred. His real name is Claudy Célestin, and he is a dismissed civil servant from Haiti's Ministry of the Interior. The leader of another gang known as General Jeff also controls territory near the neighborhood where the couple was killed. Both gangs are part of a coalition known as Viv Ansanm, which means "Live Together."

The coalition is responsible for launching large-scale attacks on key government infrastructure starting Feb. 29. Gunmen have attacked police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that remained closed for nearly three months before opening earlier this week and stormed Haiti's two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. Gangs also are blamed for killing or injuring more than 2,500 people across Haiti from January to March, a 50% increase compared with the same period last year, according to the United Nations.

Kidnappings also are rampant, with targets including U.S. missionaries. In October 2021, gang members kidnapped 17 missionaries, the majority U.S. citizens. Many in the group, which included five children, were held captive for more than two months before escaping. Then in July 2023, gangs kidnapped a U.S. nurse and her daughter from the campus of a Christian-run school near Port-au-Prince. They were released nearly two weeks later.

The U.S. Department of State has long had a "do not travel" advisory for Haiti and urges any U.S. citizens in the country to depart as soon as possible. On the Missions for Haiti website, the founders wrote that the organization was founded in 2000. It said it aimed to help with "the country's biggest need -- its children." A May 2023 newsletter posted on the mission website said Natalie "has been helping with the kids at the House of Compassion and assisting in our ACE school. Davy has been working on a lot of badly needed projects around our compound," including building a laundry room and repairing bathrooms.

The tragic loss of the Lloyds and the third individual, Jude, highlights the dire situation in Haiti, where the government's grip on security has noticeably weakened. The need for international support has become increasingly urgent as the Kenyan police contingent, part of a U.N.-sanctioned effort, is expected to join the fight against this rampant lawlessness. This international force is hoped to assist the Haitian National Police in restoring order and safety to the chaos-ridden streets of Port-au-Prince.

As the news of the missionary deaths spread, tributes and condolences began to flood social media, with many expressing horror and sorrow over the violent nature of the attack. The loss is a grim reminder of the dangers faced by foreign aid workers and missionaries who risk their lives in conflict zones.

The escalating violence in Haiti has significantly hindered humanitarian efforts. Aid groups and NGOs are finding it increasingly difficult to operate amidst the security challenges. The vacuum of authority has empowered gangs to pursue their criminal activities with impunity, further exacerbating the suffering of the Haitian people, who have already endured political turmoil, natural disasters, and extreme poverty.

The Haitian government, with international support, is facing a complex challenge: to disarm the gangs, restore rule of law, and provide the Haitian people with the security and stability they desperately need. The recent attacks on essential infrastructure and the mass prison breaks underline the monumental task at hand.

Amidst these tragedies, the international community continues to discuss the best course of action. Efforts to stabilize Haiti revolve around strategic policy decisions, economic aid, and heightened security missions to support the beleaguered nation. Yet, the fundamental question remains: How can peace and order be restored to a country so deeply immersed in turmoil?

In the wake of this violence, there is an urgent call for global leaders to unite in finding a sustainable resolution to the crisis in Haiti. As the Lloyds' family and friends mourn their devastating loss, the world watches with apprehensive eyes, hoping that the forthcoming assistance can make a significant difference before more lives are lost in this ongoing struggle.