Haitians Express Shock, Anger About President's Assassination

WASHINGTON / PORT-AU-PRINCE - The streets of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, were mostly empty Wednesday following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his private residence in the early-morning hours. Businesses were closed, most people remained home and armored police vehicles were seen on the main roads. Armed guards stood watch in key locations of the capital.

A state of siege was declared by interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who said he was in charge of the country. Haitian officials said heavily armed gunmen posing as U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officers who spoke Spanish and English shot and killed the president in a “highly coordinated” attack. His wife, Martine Moise, was gravely injured and remained in critical but stable condition at a Miami hospital. Haitian media reported the late president’s "alleged assassins” had been intercepted late Wednesday, although details about the arrest were scarce as the investigation continued amid a national border lockdown.