American teacher shot dead in Libya
Members of the Libyan security forces stand by an armored personnel carrier as they patrol the streets of Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolution, on Nov. 14, 2013.
An American chemistry teacher was shot dead in Libya as he went for a morning jog on Thursday, various media reports said.
The victim has been identified as Ronnie Smith, a 33-year-old from Texas. He was teaching chemistry at an international school in the eastern city of Benghazi.
"He was doing his morning exercise when gunmen just shot him. I don't know why. He was so sweet with everyone," Adel al Mansouri, director at the International School Benghazi, was quoted as saying.
Smith was due to return home next week to celebrate Christmas with his wife and two-year-old son.
Smith was jogging in the Fweihat district when he was gunned down. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The BBC said Smith was one of the few foreigners living in the increasingly lawless city where several extremist militia groups have been operating since the 2011 civil war that ousted veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The Associated Press, citing a security official, said the attack on Smith happened near the US consulate where US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed by Islamic militants in September 2012.
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