PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The death of Iskar Andrice, a notorious gang leader in Haiti, has sparked concerns of a potential increase in gang violence in the wake of his demise. Andrice, who once worked as a math and physics teacher, was killed in a neighborhood within the Cite Soleil slum, which he controlled for years, as reported by local media on Monday.

Former mayor Esaïe Beauchard described Andrice as a very intelligent man and expressed regret that he was involved in gang activity. The gang led by Andrice was known for involvement in murder, robbery, extortion, rape, and hijacking of goods and trucks, according to a recent U.N. report.

Andrice had later joined forces with renowned gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, to form the “G9 Family and Allies” alliance, which is considered to be Haiti’s biggest and most powerful gang group. Their influence was so significant that media interviews granted by Chérizier had to be approved by Andrice.

The U.N. reported that Andrice, along with other gang leaders, had created the Siloé Foundation in 2015 to win over the community he controlled and present a positive image of himself. Additionally, Andrice and other gang leaders were accused of leading deadly raids on Haitian neighborhoods that targeted civilians, as reported by the nonprofit National Human Rights Defense Network in Haiti.

Moreover, they were accused of paralyzing operations at a main fuel terminal in the capital, Port-au-Prince, last year, which led to the Haitian Prime Minister making his first request for the urgent deployment of a foreign armed force.

The death of Andrice has left a void in the gang-controlled area, raising concerns of potentially heightened gang violence. Andrice’s influence, along with his partnership with Chérizier, had a significant impact on the social and political landscape of Haiti.