John Granville ~ USAID Officer Murdered in Sudan

John Granville was murdered in the Sudan on January 1, 2008. Granville, 33, a USAID (United States Agency for International Development) worker was shot to death, along with his driver, in the area near the UN compound of Khartoum - an area considered safe. Granville was from South Buffalo, New York.

John Granville was in Sudan to bring radios to the population of South Sudan. His family described him as "part of a team trying to negotioate peace in the Sudan. John's life was a celebration of love, hope and peace."

In a country wracked with violence and Islamic extremism, the Sudanese are quoted as saying that the incident was 'isolated and has no political or ideological connotations.'

It is hard to believe that the murder of an American aid worker is not a targeted killing of an American. It is especially difficult to believe it without any investigation whatsoever. After all, this is the same nation that gave us the teddy bear teacher.

We will hold John Granville's family and friends in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.