Archive · 21 Jan 2026
Videographer Describes Haitian Gang Attack
A brave videographer named Pierre-Richard Luxama was filming with police in Haiti when bad guys called gangs attacked them.
The gangs threw fire bombs at the police car, making it very smoky inside.
The police shot back, and the car went back to the base.
The streets were empty and scary, with no people and lots of trash.
The gangs are very powerful and have made many people leave their homes.
Luxama stayed calm and kept filming, even though it was very dangerous.
He saw sad things like a severed arm and leg tied to a wire.
The gangs control most of the city, and many people are very hungry.
Veteran AP videographer Pierre-Richard Luxama was filming a police patrol in Port-au-Prince when gang members attacked with Molotov cocktails.
The armored police vehicle's roof was set ablaze, filling it with smoke, and officers returned fire, causing the gang to retreat.
Luxama described the chaotic scene, including a severed arm and leg tied to an electrical wire and empty, demolished streets.
Gang violence has displaced 1.4 million people and left 5.7 million Haitians in a hunger crisis, with 1.9 million facing emergency levels of hunger.
Luxama emphasized the importance of staying calm in dangerous situations, recalling how he and the officers managed to return to the police base safely.
- Who
- Veteran Associated Press videographer Pierre-Richard Luxama and a tactical police unit
- What
- A gang attack involving Molotov cocktails on an armored police vehicle
- When
- Around 10:30 am on a Monday
- Where
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Why
- Gang violence and control over the capital
- Videographer
- Pierre-Richard Luxama
- Location
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Attack Time
- Around 10:30 am
- Gang Involved
- Viv Ansanm
- Displaced People
- 1.4 million
- Hunger Crisis
- 5.7 million at crisis level, 1.9 million at emergency level