News that Christopher Leggett, of Cleveland, Tenn., had been killed Tuesday in the West African country of Mauritania hit hard back home.

"It's just been really shocking," said Michael Cole, president of the Cleveland Rotary Club. "It's not something that you'd expect to happen to somebody you know."

Mr. Leggett had been working in Nouakchott, the nation's capital, for six years teaching computer science and English in a lower-class neighborhood, according to reports from Reuters and The Associated Press. He was shot and killed while struggling against kidnappers in the center of the city.

Those reports do not identify Mr. Leggett by name, but Mr. Cole said he definitely was the victim.

"We got news of it this morning," he said.

Mr. Leggett spoke to the local Rotary Club several months ago to discuss his work in Mauritania, Mr. Cole said.

He said he was not aware of any connections between Mr. Leggett and any major international aid organizations.

According to an Associated Press report, Bilal Ould Mohamed, a butcher, witnessed the botched kidnapping. He said at least two young men rushed Mr. Leggett but shot him several times when they could not overpower him.

Mr. Mohamed said he tried to stop the attackers, but they threatened him with a gun.

Officials are making arrangements to return Mr. Leggett's family, who also lived in Mauritania, to the United States, Mr. Cole said.

Mr. Leggett's brother, Jay, a banker who lives in Cleveland, could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

In 2007, a group of French picnickers was killed in Mauritania by gunmen believed to be linked to Al-Qaida.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.