In a devastating blow to Haiti’s law enforcement, heavily armed gang members killed two elite police officers from a specialized unit late Tuesday in Kenscoff, a once-tranquil farming community near Port-au-Prince, officials confirmed. The attack underscores the escalating gang violence gripping the Caribbean nation, where gangs control 90% of the capital.

According to Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police, the officers were patrolling in an armored vehicle when it became trapped in a ditch deliberately dug by gangs. As they attempted to escape, they were fatally shot. Social media videos posted by the attackers showed them gloating over seized items, including boots, automatic weapons, and bulletproof vests, alongside gruesome footage of the slain officers.

This incident follows the killing of three police officers and an informant in Haiti’s central region last month, with a fourth officer still missing. The United Nations reports that from April to June 2025, 1,520 people were killed and 600 injured across Haiti, with 24% of these casualties attributed to gang violence. The situation has worsened with gangs expanding into organized crime, including drug, arms, and human trafficking, according to outgoing UN humanitarian coordinator Ulrika Richardson.

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Haitian police, supported by a UN-backed Kenyan-led mission, are struggling to curb the violence. The mission, intended to deploy over 2,500 personnel, currently operates with fewer than 1,000, hampering efforts to restore order. Richardson, speaking at UN headquarters on Tuesday, described Port-au-Prince’s situation as “alarming and urgent,” with 1.3 million people displaced, 2 million facing severe food insecurity, and two-thirds of the capital’s hospitals non-functional. She highlighted the dire funding shortfall, noting that Haiti’s $900 million humanitarian response plan is only 9% funded—the lowest globally.

The attack in Kenscoff, a community now targeted for gang control, signals the growing audacity of armed groups. With Haiti’s police and international forces outgunned and under-resourced, the crisis continues to deepen, threatening further instability in the region.

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