Dutch Special Forces Soldiers Shot In Front Of Indianapolis Hotel

Indianapolis, IN – A Dutch commando who was visiting the United States for training was fatally shot in front of his downtown Indianapolis hotel early Saturday morning and two other Dutch solders were seriously wounded.

The incident occurred at about 3 a.m. on Aug. 27 outside the Hampton Inn located in the 100-block of South Meridian Street, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Authorities described the incident as a drive-by shooting.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) said investigators believed the shooting was related to an earlier altercation the soldiers had with someone else before they returned to their hotel.

All three wounded soldiers were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment, WISH reported.

Two were in critical condition when they arrived and the third was stable.

Dutch officials announced on Monday that one of the soldiers had succumbed to his wounds, WXIN reported.

The soldier who died has been identified as 26-year-old Simmie Poetsema by the Marion County Coroner’s Office.

The Dutch Defense Ministry told The Washington Post that the three members of the Dutch Commando Corps who were shot in Indianapolis were in Indiana for training at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, located about 70 miles southeast of city.

The Indiana National Guard said the Dutch special forces unit was at the facility near Butlerville that is used by the U.S. Department of Defense and its NATO allies for urban warfare training.

Dutch officials said the soldiers were off-duty and visiting Indianapolis on their day off when they were shot, WXIN reported.

Royal Netherlands Army Major Mark van de Beek said that Poetsema died in the hospital surrounded by family and colleagues, the Indianapolis Star reported.

“They were brought in as soon as we learned there were three colleagues wounded,” Major van de Beek said. “We flew over the relatives to Indiana for them to be with their loved ones. Thankfully they got to go over there to be with him.”

Poetsema’s family has asked for privacy and requested that his photo not be released to the public, the Indianapolis Star reported.

“Everybody is shocked that this happened,” Major van de Beek said. “We are losing a great colleague and I’m sure everyone at the unit is going to miss him very much. We lost a really good colleague.”

Police have arrested Shamar Duncan in connection with the shooting. He has been charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of disorderly conduct.