David Bompart, Philanthropist Helping To Rebuild Haiti, Shot, Robbed

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS/JENNIFER KAY

MIAMI -- A U.S. man who helped build a trauma center in Haiti after January 2010's devastating earthquake was treated at that hospital after being critically wounded during a robbery in the capital of Port-au-Prince, his wife and doctors said Friday.

David Bompart, 50, of Columbus, Ohio, was shot Tuesday afternoon outside a bank and was in critical condition Friday at a Florida hospital. Bompart was picking up money for an orphanage building project when robbers sprayed bullets at him at close range. He was hit but able to walk to a nearby Project Medishare hospital for help, said his wife, Nicolle Bompart, 45.

The robbers stole his camera and passport, but the money for the orphanage remained safe in Bompart's pants pocket, his wife said. The suspects have not been arrested.

"I feel like this was a robbery (by) some people who were desperate to feed their families, and I choose to look at it as that's why they did it," Nicolle Bompart said.

He underwent two surgeries at Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare before he was airlifted Thursday night to a Miami hospital, said spokeswoman Catherine Murphy.

Bompart was on a ventilator at the Ryder Trauma Center and had gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, said Dr. Nicholas Namias, the center's co-medial director.

"What we're dealing with now are the effects of being in shock for a long time in Haiti," Namias said.

Bompart managed Project Medishare's warehouse and logistics, said co-founder, Dr. Barth Green.

Since October, Bompart had been working on building the orphanage through the couple's own charity, Eyes Wide Open International, said his wife, who flew to Haiti after the shooting.

The couple has spent much of their time since January 2010 flying between Haiti, Florida and Ohio for their charity work and for medical care for their 14-year-old son, a Haitian boy they adopted after the earthquake. The Bomparts also have a 26-year-old daughter.

Bompart knew about the potential risks of working in Haiti's capital, which had been prone to instability and violence before the earthquake. But he was devoted to helping widows and orphans in Haiti and he felt he could rely on his training as a former United Nations employee and as a member of the military in his native Trinidad and Tobago, his wife said.

"Honestly, if he was able to tell you, he would say that he would do it all over again, if it would change someone's life or bring awareness to this situation," Nicolle Bompart said. "He would still do it, because that's the kind of guy he is."

To support Bompart's charity Eyes Wide Open International, click here.

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Comments

[trron9]

11:16 PM on 01/31/2012

The violent actions of a few unfortunately will discourage Philanthropist, Aid Worker's, Nurses, Doctors from wanting to come to this "Hell Hole!" I have compassion for the Haitian people that are trying to do right but the thugs sicken me!

[jeanjeudy]

11:11 AM on 02/05/2012

very true, and thoughtful

[hyaofcr]

01:40 AM on 01/31/2012

My compassion for Haitians fades with every story I read like this. It's unfortunate.

[peter rudy]

08:30 AM on 01/29/2012

What do you expect when you go to such a third world country. They were helped years before, what positive impact has it had? It's too bad that the liberals in American society, have such an abnormal obession. With helping everyone else around the world, but their own, Americans. Are you so blind to not see, deaf to hear the anguish of our own people? Our military veterans have always been in need, our government has never met those needs. When we had no more need in this country, then help everyone else.

[Darrin Santiago]

05:40 AM on 01/30/2012

god bless you your so so so right

[Dan Crabtree]

06:42 PM on 01/28/2012

Now this man is clinging to life...Haiti once was the richest and the most productive colony in the entire world untill abolition appeared and transformef haiti from the richest colony to the poorest colony in the western hemispere. A colony that once had productivity and full employment to a colony now dependent on the generosity of other nations to make it from week to week...What monster did this ..ABOLITION

[MissTake1989]

05:09 AM on 01/29/2012

I have to say...this is first pro slavery stance I have seen here.

[socialtalker]

02:11 AM on 02/01/2012

not exactly. since the haitian revolution, for over 200 years whites have been terrified of what happened there and have been punishing the blacks in haiti ever since. the whites of the americas and europe knew they could not have an example of a stable, successful black country so this country never misses a chance to keep haiti destabilized. americans stay blissfully ignorant of the history of the us and haiti. supporting dictators that drain the country. destabilizing heads of state that try to turn things around. population migration that would ease the burden of population in haiti doesn't happen without a lot of resistance. what happens in white or lighter skinned countries is allowed white (ireland, cuba) white haiti has been blocked. the story of the haitian black pig is an excellent example.

[Darren Ryan Murphy]

01:13 PM on 01/28/2012

An unfortunate casualty of a beleaguered nation. Family and friends of the victim will be rightfully proud of his unconditional efforts to support the Haitian people. The rational and ability to show compassion towards the perpetrators, by his wife, evidences the spirit and understanding of the couple-- anger is a common reaction.

While nobody wishes David Bompart to be a sacrifice of humanitarian support in Haiti, his altruistic endeavours are inspirational to those whom haven't yet support the relief and reconstruction effort.

Best wishes for your recovery.

[oranges869]

12:30 PM on 01/28/2012

Where is the follow up by former presidents Bush and Clinton? They used their voices to get a whole lot of money collected for the relief effort. As far as I can tell less than half the money has been used. Have Bush and Clinton gone Hollywood where it's accepatable to start a endeavor then drop the ball. People don't have food and drinkable water yet the funds are waiting to be used. Both ex-presidents should petition President Obama for the services of the Marine Corp Commandant. Give him the money, a group of Marines and a deadline and I bet every penny would be spent on helping the people od Haiti and I bet he'll be able to account for every single penny. You have a nasty problem like Haiti you get a nasty problem solver like Mr. James Amos on it!

[Cassandra Velasco]

01:42 AM on 01/28/2012

Lawlessness, in the aftermath of cruel disaster, is something that will strike both Haitians, who are ther vast majority of victims,as well as foreign volunteers. Let this be a warning that NO ONE should go anywhere near a bank down there without some strong men along for protection.