Netherlands Defense Minister finds US gun violence 'very concerning' after Dutch commando is killed in Texas shooting
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren has expressed concern about gun violence in the United States at a meeting of European Union defense ministers in Prague on Tuesday, August 30. She raised these concerns after a shooting in Indianapolis that left one Dutch soldier, Simmie Poetsema, dead and two wounded on early hours of Saturday, August 27.
Sharing details of the incident, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said, as per Fox News, that there was a disturbance at a bar. Hogsett said, "As I understand it, there was a scuffle, a kerfuffle, at a bar and the Dutch guardsmen had returned to their hotel. What they were doing outside, I'm not altogether sure, but I'm told the alleged perpetrators did a drive-by shooting and ultimately three were victimized by that shooting." This killed the 26-year-old Poetsema, a member of the Dutch Commando Corps, the hotel and the other two suffered non life-threatening gunshot wounds. As per the report, the three were in Indiana for training at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, a military base.
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During the meeting, Ollongre said, as quoted by Associated Press, "We do many trainings of our servicemen in the United States, and we really don’t expect this to happen. So it’s very, very concerning for us. We have read things in the media, we have heard what the mayor said but we feel it’s very important to have a real thorough investigation. So we’re waiting for that until we comment on what actually happened." The defense minister also mentioned that there is a “good contact” between Dutch military police and authorities in Indianapolis.
On the other hand, Hogsett said he believed the city’s downtown area was safe and officials were working to reduce violence. He said, “Too often, not just in Indianapolis, conflict resolution has become just people pulling out guns and shooting each other."
Suspect Shamar Duncan arrested
As per a press release by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Shamar Duncan, 22, was taken into custody on Tuesday, August 30 for the murder. However, the police said it would decide his final charges after reviewing the case by Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO). "Till then, he will not be eligible for release," the release read.