Gunmen kill 3 at Haiti hospital press event

Armed men attacked journalists gathered for a press conference at Haiti's largest public hospital, killing at least three people, including two reporters and a police officer. The incident occurred at the State University of Haiti Hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince, where media representatives were awaiting the arrival of Haiti's new health minister for an announcement about the facility's reopening.

The press conference was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., but gunfire erupted around 11 a.m. while journalists were still waiting. Local media footage captured the chaotic scene as reporters took cover on the hospital lobby floor amid flying bullets. Some journalists were seen climbing walls to escape the violence, with several suffering injuries.

Leslie Voltaire, head of Haiti's transitional presidential council, condemned the attack as "unacceptable" in a video message. The hospital, commonly known as the General Hospital, has been closed since March following a surge in gang violence that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The facility's location near the Champ de Mars square has become a flashpoint for confrontations between police and the Viv Ansanm gang alliance. Armed gangs, which now control an estimated 80-90% of the capital, have specifically targeted hospitals to demonstrate their power over the government, resulting in widespread closures of medical facilities.

The attack highlights the continuing security crisis in Haiti, where gang violence has created a volatile environment for civilians, journalists, and essential services. Despite promises of security support from neighboring countries, progress in addressing the situation has been limited, leaving the Caribbean nation struggling with widespread gang control and institutional paralysis.