The President of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse been assassinated in an attack at his home on Tuesday night.
President Moïse died in a hail of bullets from unknown assailants at the scene and his wife also seriously wounded was hospitalised with gunshot injuries.
No one had claimed responsibility for the murders and a motive is still unclear.
The country has been placed under a state of emergency.
Haiti has been gripped by persistent violent political upheaval and crippling poverty throughout most of its modern history.
President Moïse himself was at the centre of a recent spate of political turmoil over the duration of his tenure.
He came into office in 2017 after controversial elections but his swearing-in was delayed over allegations of voter fraud.
The President has been ruling by decree for more than two years after the country failed to hold elections. He had claimed that his term should have been extended.
The opposition has been calling for him to step down but instead he had responded with a series of clampdowns.
The assassination of President Moise has been condemned throughout the region and globally.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it "an abhorrent act" and appealing for calm. US President Joe Biden said it was a "horrific assassination" and offered to “provide any assistance that's needed."
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