Columbus Man Shot, Robbed In Haiti Transported To U.S. Hospital

A volunteer aid worker in Haiti was being flown back to the United States for medical attention on Thursday after being robbed and shot in the chest.

Columbus resident David Bompart, co-founder of Eyes Wide Open International, was robbed at gunpoint while coming out of a bank a few days ago.

According to family members, Bompart underwent two surgeries but was experiencing internal bleeding.

Bompart left Haiti Thursday afternoon and was expected to arrive in Columbus at about 8 p.m.

Bompart was in Haiti working on building an orphanage, Bompart’s wife, Nicolle Bompart, said.

“My husband came down 10 days after the earthquake,” Nicolle Bompart said. “He speaks Creole, and his passion is disaster relief, and we just felt like that was something he was supposed to do.”

Nicolle Bompart said that her husband’s laptop, wallet, passport and money were recovered as of Thursday morning.

“Today, I looked in the eyes of the men we had worked side-by-side with and served and that we had loved, and I saw the heartbreak that one of their own had done to us, and I saw the pain that that caused them,” Bompart said.

Bompart said that she hoped others would not become hardened over the act of violence.

“I know if my husband were able to speak today, he would say, ‘Open your hearts, open your hearts to your neighbor. Open your hearts to people who look like you. Open your hearts to someone to care about them. Don’t give up, even if it means paying the ultimate price,’” Bompart said.

Family and friends said that they raised more than $40,000 to cover costs of the direct flight.

The U.S. Department of State issued a warning to people traveling to Haiti.

“I’ve told my family and I’ve told my pastor, who also is my friend, that this is not going to stop us from helping the Hatian people,” Nicolle Bompart said. “Even if my husband dies, we are going to continue to love the Hatian people. They’re part of our lives now, and they need help.”

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