[WonderMomma]

A US citizen was allegedly killed in an "organized" hit earlier on 7 November in Iraq. Very preliminary information, but the victim was allegedly driving a Toyota Land Cruiser when "multiple cars" boxed him in and shot.

"BAGHDAD (AP, WATE) — An American aid worker and language teacher who was fatally shot in central Baghdad was identified as 45-year-old Tennessee native S.E.T, the U.S. Embassy based in the capital said Tuesday.

T. graduated from Crowne College in Powell, Tennessee about 20 years ago, according to school officials, who said they are aware of his death. T. is listed as both a faculty member and alumnus in a school catalog.

Associated Press reports that T. was killed by unknown assailants in his car as he pulled up to the street where he lived with his family in Baghdad’s central Karrada district. It was a rare killing of a foreigner in Iraq, where security conditions have improved in recent years, even opening the door for tourism.

The embassy said it was closely monitoring an investigation begun by Iraqi authorities, but declined to comment further out of respect for his mourning family, the embassy statement said.

A State Department official said he was a private citizen with no connection to the government. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to go on the record.

T. graduated from Crowne College in Powell 20 years ago.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation in the hours after T. was killed. T. body had already arrived at Baghdad’s Sheikh Zayed hospital.

The circumstances surrounding T.'s death and his activities in Iraq are shrouded in mystery. No group has claimed responsibility for the killing. Security officials dismissed the possibility it was a kidnapping gone wrong.

Security officials said as T. drove through his street toward his home in Karrada’s Wahda area on Monday, a car cut him off and assailants in another vehicle then shot him dead. The officials also said his wife was in the car with him but had not been hurt. Her whereabouts and that of their children are not known.

T. worked for a language center in Baghdad’s Harthiya neighborhood and was also reportedly employed by an American non-governmental organization, Millennium Relief and Development Services. The Associated Press reached out to the organization’s main country office in the northern province of Dohuk, but local authorities said it had not been operating for two years.

“We are greatly saddened by the tragedy that took the life of our colleague, near his home in Baghdad, Iraq. He was shot and killed by armed attackers as he returned to his home on Monday evening. An investigation is ongoing and details on the assailants and the motivation for the attack are not known at this time.” Millennium Relief & Development says on their website.

“Our colleague had been working for a local English learning institute, Global English Institute, for the past few years, managing the promotions and advertising while his wife was manager of the school. Global has operated under the umbrella of international NGO, Millennium Relief & Development Services, for more than 20 years. He loved the people of Iraq and it motivated him to strive for excellence in his work at Global. He will be remembered as a source of great encouragement and will be missed by all who knew him and were touched by his life.”

Officials also told the AP the NGO was known to conduct Christian missionary work along with its development activities. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media.

The language school, Global English Institute, issued a statement on its Facebook page bidding farewell to T. It promised to spread his message of “teaching the English language to spread love and peace for the sake of rebuilding our country.”

T. and his family lived in a small two-story house with a small yard in a neighborhood where many companies, local and foreign, rent out buildings. A security guard nearby said T. would greet him in Arabic every morning on his way to work.

T.’s Iraqi neighbors in particular respected T., said Abu Ali, the guard. He said T. took part in important Shiite Muslim events, even the Arbaeen pilgrimage to Karbala to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein.

“He was very much loved by the neighbors,” Abu Ali said. He did not provide his full name.

T.’s social media profile shows he was a deeply religious and devoted family man, often posting photos with his wife and three young daughters, with a special devotion to the Middle East. In his Twitter biography he described himself as living and serving in the region.

In one post, T. posed with his wife on a Baghdad bridge as the sun set behind them. “What a wonderful place!” he wrote.

In the early years that followed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, such attacks were common. In 2004, two Americans were kidnapped in Baghdad and extremists later released videos showing their beheading."

[*Ragdoll_Cutie*]

[Susan]

He looks fairly happy.

[William May]

Just like hiking in Afghanistan, or bicycling along the border trails of Iran, or backpacking through Somalia.

Where are your fucking brains?!?!?

[icehole]

died peacefully
not how he died tho

[hmdqyg]

Moral of the story: DON'T GO TO IRAQ!!!!!!

[Drastic85]

Don't want your head chopped off? Stay the f*ck in Oklahoma Jack! -George Carlin

[Clouds in the Sky]

This is fucking awful... But, then again, maybe don't move to an unstable and corrupt country? He was a better man, than me. Being a teacher myself, there is no fucking way I would have gone to teach there.

[houseoftechno]

...and then I said to Muhammad, "Look, you make the best kabob in all of central Karrada and I will always be your best customer. We've known each other for over three years and I am beginning to really care for you as a friend, and a father of a beautiful family. So I need to ask, have you thought any more about accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?"

[Abor]

People who do this know what they're getting into. Same as high risk extreme sports. Just cause you're a pussy doesn't mean they are.