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Associated Press photographer shot by politician in Haiti incident

(Still image from Voice of America/The Desk)

A photographer working for the Associated Press was injured on Monday after being shot by a Haitian senator during a confirmation ceremony for the country’s new prime minister.

Chery Dieu-Nalio sustained a face injury caused by bullet fragments when Haitian Senator Jean Marie Ralph Féthière drew a gun, threatened to open fire and then shot several rounds while trying to emerge from a crowd around the country’s parliament building.

“I was attacked by groups of violent militants,” Féthière later told reporters. “They tried to get me out of my vehicle. And so I defended myself. Self-defense is a sacred right…it was proportional: Equal force, equal response.”

Féthière told Radio Mega he was unaware reporters were at the scene, though photos show Dieu-Nalio and others were wearing gear at the time that clearly identified them as members of the media.

Dieu-Nalio’s injuries were non-life threatening. A second man, identified as a driver, was also injured in the incident.

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About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys covers the business of broadcast and streaming TV, radio broadcasting, social media, technology and telecommunications. A journalist for over 15 years, Matthew previously worked at Thomson Reuters, KGO-TV in San Francisco, KTXL in Sacramento and McNaughton Newspapers. He received 9 California Journalism Awards between 2018 and 2020, and is a member of IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors).
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