Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue, a former police officer who heads a gang coalition known as "G9 Family and Allies," leads a march to demand justice for slain Haitian President Jovenel Moise, Haiti, July 26, 2021.
Authorities in Haiti have arrested a top official who served as general security coordinator when President Jovenel Moise was assassinated, his attorney has told The Associated Press.
Jean Laguel Civil joins more than two dozen suspects arrested by Haiti National Police as the investigation continues into the July 7 attack at Moise's private home.
Civil's attorney, Reynold Georges, called his client's arrest politically motivated. It wasn't immediately clear if Civil had been charged with anything.
The arrest comes as more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered around one of Haiti's most notorious gang leaders to commemorate Moise.
READ MORE: Haiti bids adieu to slain president Moise as instability grips nation
Demonstrators seek justice
The crowd was mostly dressed in white as they cheered on Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer who now leads “G9,” a federation of nine gangs that officials have blamed for a spike in violence and kidnappings in recent months.
“Everyone needs to wait on my order before we respond to the killing of Jovenel Moise,” said Cherizier, who goes by the name of “Barbecue" and whom police say is behind several recent massacres that targeted civilians living in communities run by other gangs.
He was wearing a white suit and black tie as he spoke to the crowd at the seaside slum of La Saline in the capital of Port-au-Prince. A nearby truck played music as Cherizier knelt down before a large portrait of Moise and began to light candles.
“No justice, no peace!” he said.
Earlier, the crowd sang as they made a circle around a bonfire and threw salt into it as part of a ceremony to honour Moise. Many had their faces covered so as not to be identified.
Moise was shot several times during a July 7 attack in which his wife was seriously injured. At least 26 people have been arrested, including 18 former Colombian soldiers.
Police are still looking for various suspects, including a former rebel leader and an ex-Haitian senator. On Monday, they identified another suspect: Haiti Superior Court Judge Windelle Coq Thelot.
But the case remains murky, with many unanswered questions, such as how no members of the presidential security detail were wounded in the brazen assault.
Haitians have expressed shock that those tasked with protecting the president and his home failed him so abjectly.
Haiti is riddled with crime and powerful gangs – problems that were exacerbated during Moise's presidency.
READ MORE: Violence erupts in Haiti ahead of slain president's funeral
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