American man believed to be professor shot dead in Mauritania

American man shot dead in Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania — Police say an American man has been shot dead as he left his car in the capital of the West African nation of Mauritania.

Witness Bilal Ould Mohamed says he saw at least two young men rush up to the middle-aged man and shoot him several times in the head and face. He says he tried to stop the men, but they pointed their gun at him before running off.

Mohamed and other neighbors identified the man and said he was a U.S. professor teaching at a center specializing in computer science in Nouakchott.

An AP correspondent at the scene Tuesday saw officials from the U.S. Embassy arrive as the body lay on the pavement.