MASERU — An American Peace Corps volunteer, Thomas Maresco, 24, was fatally shot in Maseru on last Friday.
Acting police spokesperson, Lekhotla Mokete, confirmed the murder.
“His body was found at a road between Maseru Sun and Centre of Accounting Studies,” Mokete said.
Police say Maresco was shot on his way from Maseru Sun where he had just attended a farewell party for his fellow Peace Corps volunteers.
Suspects are still at large and police are investigating.
“The investigation into this incident is ongoing, but at this time it appears it may have been an attempted robbery,” said a statement from the American Embassy in Lesotho.
According to a press release issued by United States embassy in Maseru, Maresco arrived in Lesotho for Peace Corps service in November last year.
He was a science teacher in Thaba-Tseka.
He was a graduate of the University of Florida in the US.
He was an active member of his local community in Katse and coached youths in a number of sports including basketball and swimming.
Maresco became his district’s representative on the Peace Corps Lesotho HIV/Aids committee and was committed to developing innovative ways to address HIV awareness among young people.
He was scheduled to complete his Peace Corps service in January 2012.
There are currently 91 volunteers serving in Lesotho.
Over 2 100 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in Lesotho since 1967.
Volunteers in the sub-Saharan African nation work in the fields of education and community health and economic development.
