On the night of Saturday, August 5, 2017 around 10:00 am Ernie Rice, 63, an American missionary, a member of the Texas Baptist Church and the Good for Haiti Organization was violently assaulted and injured at his home in Cap-Destré, a habitation of the 12th communal section of Petit-Goâve.

He was rushed to the hospital where he was treated. Since then, he has returned to his residence.

The alleged perpetrator Luckner Labonté, aka "Pa fè mal", was arrested by police on Tuesday, August 8th at 11 am in Beatrice and taken to Petit-Goâve police station.

The missionary Rice, told of his aggression on the microphone of Radio Preference "[...] Luckner Labonté who lived in the area, entered my house after knocking violently on my door with a big stone, the he approached me. He spoke Creole, he said a lot of words and I did not understand everything. Certainly he wanted money, he grabbed a piece of wood and hit me on the head a terrible blow, I fell to the ground in blood and fainted... My security guard and neighbors rescued me. I appreciated the support of the people [...]"

Recall that Rice has been living in Haiti since 2011, he works in the field of education and vocational training of young people to whom he learns to make furniture.

HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goâve)