The Haitian National Police said it is investigating the deaths of three police officers that it blamed on gangs.
The agency said Wednesday that a gang called “Ti Makak” — Little Macaques — killed policemen Tuesday in Laboulea residential community south of Port-au-Prince.
It is also the site of a turf dispute between gangs that has led to other killings in the area, including two journalists who were shot dead in January and a former senator who worked in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and his nephew, who were shot in August.
Police said they have launched an investigation into what they called an act “hateful and disgusting”.
A video on social media appears to show the policemen lying dead on the ground, shirtless and with multiple firearms by their sides.
“Here they are, here they are”, a man says as the camera pans over the bodies.
Haitian gangs have become more powerful since the July 7, 2021 murder of the President Jovenel Moise and they have overwhelmed the police, which are understaffed and under-resourced.
The international community has tried to strengthen the Haitian police with training and resources in recent months.