‘It was a massacre’: Haiti gangs carry out mass killings across the country

‘It was a massacre’: Haiti Gangs Carry Out Mass Killings Across the Country

The Rise of Gang Violence in Rural Haiti

It was a massacre - For years, Haiti’s urban centers have been plagued by relentless gang warfare, but the violence is now spreading into rural regions. The Gran Grif gang, a notorious criminal group, has escalated its attacks, targeting peaceful communities and transforming them into zones of destruction. Recent events in the village of Jean-Denis, nestled in the Artibonite region, have highlighted the scale of this crisis. Residents describe scenes of chaos, with entire families falling victim to gunshots and fires, as the gangs assert dominance over previously untouched areas.

A Night of Terror in Jean-Denis

At 2 a.m., the first gunshots of the night echo through a quiet rural neighborhood. Merçide Daniel, a 45-year-old mother of four, recalls the sound of rapid gunfire as it swept through the settlement. “They were attacking from all sides, like a storm,” she says. The Gran Grif, one of Haiti’s most feared criminal organizations, had set their sights on Jean-Denis, aiming to claim it as a strategic stronghold. Armed with rifles and wearing civilian clothes, dozens of gang members stormed the village, leaving no room for mercy.

Residents attempting to flee were met with deadly precision. Some were shot on the spot, while others were dragged from their homes and executed in front of their families. The violence was relentless, with homes set ablaze and the air filled with the acrid scent of smoke. “I hid in the bushes, but when I looked back, everything was gone,” Daniel explains, her voice trembling. By dawn, the once-colorful village had been reduced to smoldering ruins, and dozens of bodies lay scattered across the streets.

Victims Across Generations

The massacre left no age group unscathed. A 85-year-old father of six, Estimable Fils-Aimé, was found burned alive in his house after gang members set it on fire. Young children, too, were not spared—Berlancia Dor, an eight-year-old, was killed while escaping with her family, her chest pierced by a bullet. In the garden of her home, Thélomène Thelot, a 62-year-old mother of five, was struck by three shots before being lynched by the attackers. “They didn’t care who they killed,” says Daniel, her anguish echoing the shared trauma of survivors.

Among the victims was Kenold François, a 28-year-old father of one, who died from multiple abdominal wounds in his yard. An elderly woman, Marie Elvire Louis, 80, was found wrapped in a plaid blanket, her neck and chest riddled with gunshots. The brutality of the attack is underscored by the fact that five members of Daniel’s family were murdered: two uncles, an aunt, and two cousins. Three were killed in their attempt to flee, while the other two were burned alive as they sought shelter in their homes.

Escalating Threats and State Collapse

As gangs push deeper into rural areas, the collapse of state authority has become more pronounced. In Port-au-Prince, cartels have long controlled vast portions of the city, eroding public services and security. Now, they are extending their reach into the countryside, which had previously been a sanctuary for farming communities. Key roads have been seized, and villages are targeted in waves of violence, leaving civilians to face the consequences of this territorial conquest.

“We are not safe anymore,” says Daniel, who now lives in a state of perpetual fear. “They’ve taken everything from us.” Gerno Théophile, 61, lost six family members and his home in the attack. He now sleeps on the streets, lamenting the lack of government support in the aftermath. “No one is helping us,” he adds, his frustration palpable. The violence has forced thousands to flee their homes, creating a refugee crisis in the region.

Data Reveals Worsening Trends

According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project (ACLED), a conflict-monitoring organization, the frequency of gang-related violence has surged in recent years. In Artibonite, where Jean-Denis is located, incidents involving gangs and vigilante groups have risen from 39 in 2021 to 238 in 2025. Meanwhile, in Centre, a landlocked department in the heart of the country, violent events have increased from seven to 111 over the same period. Analysts warn that these numbers are only a fraction of the true toll, as many attacks go unreported.

Analysts also point to a growing threat in the southeastern region of Haiti, where criminal groups are gaining traction. “The gangs are no longer confined to cities,” one expert notes. “They are now conducting operations in remote areas, disrupting daily life and threatening the stability of the entire nation.” The shift in strategy reflects a broader pattern of domination, with gangs using fear as a tool to control populations and resources.

Documenting the Atrocities

The Guardian has compiled a detailed account of the Jean-Denis massacre using verified videos, photographs, witness testimonies, and satellite imagery. These sources paint a harrowing picture of the violence, revealing the extent of the destruction and the systematic nature of the attacks. The images of charred buildings and lifeless bodies speak volumes about the gangs’ ruthless tactics, which have left communities in ruins.

At least 70 civilians were killed in the village, with many more injured or displaced. The victims include both the elderly and the young, illustrating the indiscriminate nature of the violence. “They killed indiscriminately, without any regard for age or status,” says one survivor. The attack has not only claimed lives but also shattered the sense of security that once existed in rural Haiti, as the gangs continue their campaign of terror.

Aftermath and Resilience

As the smoke clears, the survivors are left to pick through the debris, searching for remnants of their lives. “I couldn’t believe my eyes,” says Daniel, who still remembers the sound of gunfire and the sight of flames consuming her home. “It was like a nightmare come true.” The village, once a thriving community, is now a symbol of the growing crisis, with its streets lined by the bodies of those who could not escape the violence.

Despite the devastation, some residents remain determined to rebuild. However, the challenges are immense, with little support from the government. “We’re trying to survive, but it’s hard,” says a local resident. The gangs’ reach continues to expand, and with each passing day, the risk of further attacks grows. The question now is whether Haiti can recover from this wave of violence, or if it will become a country where the threat of massacre is a constant reality.

A Nation in Crisis

The Gran Grif’s assault on Jean-Denis is part of a larger pattern of gang violence that has gripped Haiti for years. With state institutions weakened and resources scarce, the gangs have increasingly taken control of the situation. The violence in rural areas has forced a reevaluation of the country’s security landscape, as the conflict spreads beyond the urban centers where it has been most visible.

Residents of Jean-Denis describe the attack as a turning point, marking the first time the gangs have fully entered the countryside. “This was the worst day of my life,” says Daniel, who now lives in fear of the gangs’ return. The massacre has sparked outrage among the international community, with calls for urgent aid and intervention to stem the bloodshed. Yet, for now, the survivors continue to face the aftermath of a violence that has no end in sight.