An American teacher named Ronald Thomas Smith II was shot dead on Thursday in the city of Benghazi where he worked as a chemistry teacher at an international school, Reuters reported. Three other American military personnel were also killed.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf confirmed the death of the American citizen and the University of Texas released a statement which identified Smith as an alum who studied chemistry there, according to Reuters.
Smith taught at Benghazi's city's International School, a Libyan-owned institute that follows a British curriculum, according to the Associated Press. The State Department was not able to confirm if Smith was from Texas and did not provide his hometown.
School officials and security sources in Benghazi confirmed Smith was doing his daily exercise running routine when he was shot to death in the same area where U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, along with three other Americans, were killed in September 2012 by Islamist militants, the AP reported.
"He was doing his morning exercise when gunmen just shot him. I don't know why," Adel al Mansouri, a manager at the school in Benghazi told Reuters. "He was so sweet with everyone."
Libya, where Benghazi is located, is going through a difficult struggle to ease tensions between former fighters and militants who are continuing to challenge the state since Muammar Gaddafi was removed from power, according to Reuters.
The U.S. has just begun to help train Libya's armed forces in response to rebel fighters taking over oil sites and ports in the east of the country, as well as, protestors blocking gas pipelines demanding more ethnic rights, according to Reuters.
Jay Carney, a White House spokesperson, said the attacks have been claimed. According to the AP, the Obama administration has told the Libyan government a thorough investigation must be conducted.
