American lawyer fatally shot in Pacific nation of Micronesia, officials say
LONDON -- An American lawyer was shot and killed on the Pacific nation of Micronesia on Monday evening, officials said.
Rachelle Bergeron was shot as she returned home from her daily jog on the tiny island of Yap, where she served as acting attorney general of Yap State. Her husband was home at the time and called police, according to Yap State Gov. Henry Falan.
Bergeron was rushed to a local hospital where she died. The fatal shooting is under investigation, according to Falan.
"Yap's spirit is broken by this senseless and heinous act," the governor said in a video statement Tuesday. "I promise to do everything in my power to have justice prevail."
Bergeron, a Wisconsin native, first moved to the Federated States of Micronesia in 2015 to take a job as the assistant attorney general of Yap State. She had previously practiced law in Washington, D.C., New York City and India, according to a press release from the Yap State government.
"We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in Yap on October 14, 2019," a U.S. Department of State spokesperson told ABC News in a statement Tuesday. "We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss, and are providing all appropriate assistance to the family. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment."
Bergeron graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010.
"The University of Florida Levin College of Law community is deeply saddened to hear of this senseless crime," the school said in a statement Tuesday. "Rachelle represented the very best of UF Law. In her short, but influential, career Rachelle used her legal education to touch the lives of people across the globe. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Rachelle’s family, friends, and loved ones."
The FBI is sending a team of agents to Yap to investigate Bergeron's death.
"At the request of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Federated States of Micronesia, the FBI Honolulu Division is providing investigative assistance in the matter of the death of Rachelle Bergeron Acting Attorney General for the State of Yap," FBI spokesperson Michelle Ernst told ABC News in a statement Tuesday.
ABC News' Conor Finnegan contributed to this report.
