Coroner IDs Dutch soldier fatally shot in Indianapolis
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP/WISH) — One of three Dutch soldiers wounded in a shooting outside a hotel in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday has died, the Defense Ministry said Monday.
The commando “died tonight of his injuries. That happened surrounded by family and colleagues,” the ministry said in a statement.
The soldier, who was identified by the Marion County Coroner’s Office as 26-year-old Simmie Poetsema, was one of three members of the Dutch Commando Corps who were shot and wounded early Saturday in downtown Indianapolis after what local police believe was a disturbance outside the hotel where they were staying, authorities said.
The two other wounded soldiers are conscious, the ministry said.
The Ministry of Defence told News 8 on Monday afternoon that it will not release any pictures or other personal information on the deceased soldier at the explicit request of the family.
The shooting occurred about 3:30 a.m. in an Indianapolis’ entertainment district. The Dutch Defense Ministry said the three soldiers were from the Commando Corps and were in Indiana for training.
Indianapolis police said they believe some sort of altercation between the three victims and another person or people led to the shooting. No arrests have been made.
The Indiana National Guard said the soldiers had been training at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, a 1,000-acre (405-hectare) complex about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Indianapolis. The Guard said in a statement that the center is used for training by the Department of Defense “as well as other allies.”
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release on Monday afternoon that the other two victims have injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. IMPD did not release their names.
The IMPD release says investigators are continuing their work, but will not release “certain investigative information that could negatively impact the ability to obtain justice in this case.” That includes potential suspects or details of the investigation, IMPD’s release says.
IMPD previously has told News 8 it was called at 3:32 a.m. Saturday to the 100 block of South Meridian Street. The men were found outside the Hampton Inn hotel on Maryland Street near Meridian Street. Anyone with information about this incident was asked to contact detective Michael Wright at the IMPD homicide office at 317-327-3475 or email him at michael@wrightindy.gov.