A North Korean defector was reportedly shot to death by Chinese soldiers earlier this month while attempting to cross the Chinese border into Mongolia.

Doori Hana, a South Korean church activist group that assists North Korean defectors, said Tuesday that the defector was among 24 North Koreans who attempted to escape across the border into Mongolia on April 2.

The activist group said that out of the 24, 17 were captured while the fate of the remaining six is unknown.

The group said the 17 detainees are currently under investigation by Chinese authorities and are refusing to be repatriated to the North.