Florida-based doctor may have plotted to assume presidency in Haiti, police chief suggests

A Haitian doctor based in Florida was arrested as a “central” suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, who was killed during an attack on his private residence last week.

Haiti’s national police chief revealed during a news conference on Sunday that Christian Emmanuel Sanon, 63, was the third Haitian-born suspect with ties to the U.S. to be arrested in the investigation surrounding Moïse’s death, The New York Times reported.

Léon Charles, the chief, suggested that Sanon may have been plotting to kill Moïse to assume the presidency himself.

“He arrived by private plane in June with political objectives and contacted a private security firm to recruit the people who committed this act,” Charles said, according to the Times.

“The initial mission that was given to these assailants was to protect the individual named Emmanuel Sanon, but afterwards the mission changed,” Charles added, indicating that Sanon was attempting to position himself as president.

Charles also said one of the Colombian suspects who was arrested in connection to the assassination called Sanon after being taken into custody, the Times reported.

During a raid on Sanon’s home, authorities reportedly found a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency hat, a box of cartridges, six pistol holders, approximately 20 boxes of bullets, 24 unused shooting targets, two vehicles and four Dominican Republic license plates, the Times reported, citing police.

The assailants reportedly posed as DEA agents when carrying out the attack.

Two Americans were arrested in connection to Moïse’s assassination last week.

James Solages, 35, and Joseph Vincent, 55, both admitted to working as translators and plotting with the group for a month to attack Moïse, officials said.

The Americans said that the original plan, however, was to kidnap the president and take him to the national palace, not kill him.

According to the Times, Solages lived in South Florida and is a former security guard at the Canadian Embassy in Haiti.