Family and community members gathered Oct. 3 in Springfield, Ohio, to mourn 20-year-old Pierre Damas Bel, an honors student and aspiring neurosurgeon. Bel was struck on Aug. 31 on Interstate 70; while the coroner has not yet confirmed a cause, his family and leaders say he died by suicide after severe bullying tied to wearing an ICE ankle monitor. The monitor followed the federal revocation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, which has left thousands fearful and uncertain. Community leaders and Ohio’s governor urged continued support for the family and action to protect vulnerable immigrants.
Community Mourns Pierre Damas Bel, Honors His Dreams and Calls for Support
Flowers placed on top of the casket during the funeral service for Pierre Damas Bel at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church on Oct. 3, 2026 in Springfield, Ohio.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Family, friends and neighbors gathered on Oct. 3 at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church to mourn 20-year-old Pierre Damas Bel, a Haitian immigrant remembered for his generosity, kindness and big dreams.
Bel’s father, Pierre Ronal Bel, read a written statement to the congregation. More than 100 mourners — including classmates, coworkers, community leaders and neighbors — sat as Bel’s casket, covered with colorful flowers, rested at the front of the church. Speakers described him as an honors student who loved soccer, aspired to become a neurosurgeon and hoped one day to build a hospital in Haiti.
According to the Ohio Highway Patrol, Bel was struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 70 east of Springfield on Aug. 31 after leaving his vehicle on the roadside. The official cause of death has not yet been confirmed by a coroner, but family members and community leaders say Bel took his own life after severe bullying and humiliation tied to wearing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ankle monitor.
"He was my everything," Bel’s father wrote in the statement read at the service.
Community advocates and mourners connected Bel’s death to rising fear and enforcement actions following the federal government’s decision on July 27, 2026, to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals. TPS protects immigrants who cannot safely return to their home countries because of natural disasters, armed conflict or other dangerous conditions.
A woman looks through the program during the funeral service for Pierre Damas Bel at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church on Oct. 3, 2026 in Springfield, Ohio.
Speakers noted that Springfield is home to more than 10,000 Haitian residents and described how some community members received letters in August instructing them to report to an ICE office in Cincinnati; many were fitted with electronic ankle monitors. Bel’s family said the humiliation of wearing the monitor and the bullying he suffered contributed to severe struggles with his mental health.
Bel was a graduate of Springfield High School, a member of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and had been recruited to play soccer at Wittenberg University. His family said he previously held a full academic scholarship, which they say was affected after his TPS status changed and he was required to wear the monitor.
Speakers at the funeral, alternating between Creole and English, recalled Bel tutoring classmates, translating for relatives, helping his stepmother apply for jobs and assisting his father with emails. "Pierre believed in the American dream," several friends said, praising his compassion and quiet leadership.
Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, addressed the service: "Our dear friend and brother may have died by suicide, but he was killed by the system." Close friend Yola Lamarre said Bel’s life illustrated how criminalization and stigma can devastate immigrant communities.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks to the family of Pierre Damas Bel during the funeral service at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church on Oct. 3, 2026, in Springfield, Ohio.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who has publicly opposed revoking TPS for Haitian immigrants, attended the funeral and reflected on the broader loss. "He wanted to be a part of this country," DeWine said. "It's a tragedy for the family, the community and this country that we're losing people like this."
Speakers called for continued support for the Bel family and for policy changes to protect vulnerable immigrant communities. Nadia Jean Jacques of the Haitian Community Network urged the congregation to help the family through their grief and to stand with others facing similar uncertainty.
Bel was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield following the funeral. Community leaders and organizers have encouraged donations and ongoing assistance for the family, as well as broader advocacy on immigration policy.
Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for confidential, 24-hour support, or use live chat at 988lifeline.org.
Business and consumer issues reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at [email protected].
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