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Published on January 14, 2025
Indianapolis Trial Begins for Suspect Charged with Murder of Dutch Commando Simmie PoetsemaSource: Google Street View

The streets of Indianapolis turned into an international focal point as the trial against 22-year-old Shamar Duncan began, charged with the murder of Dutch commando Simmie Poetsema. The 26-year-old soldier had helped rescue individuals escaping the Taliban in Afghanistan before his life met a tragic end outside an Indianapolis hotel in August 2022. As reported by FOX59, Duncan is accused of firing a semi-automatic handgun into a crowd of unarmed people, killing Poetsema and wounding two other soldiers following an altercation.

Coming from a country where last year there were only 133 homicides amid a population of 18 million, the Poetsema family and Netherlands citizens are reportedly shocked by the violence witnessed in the United States, with Indianapolis recording 209 homicides among its 886,000 residents. Paul Jansen, a correspondent for The Telegraaf, in an interview obtained by FOX59, emphasized the stark contrast in gun violence rates between the Netherlands and the U.S. Jansen noted, "You have like 40-50,000 fatalities, gun violence-related a year. That’s something unimaginable for people in Holland."

Duncan's defense has acknowledged the shooting but is pushing for a conviction of reckless homicide rather than murder, claiming Duncan did not intend to kill anyone. According to a statement obtained by FOX59, defense attorney David Margerum stated, “He did fire a gun. He did fire a nine-millimeter weapon into that hotel and he will tell you he didn’t mean to kill anybody. He’ll tell you he kind of did it in a blind rage.” Meanwhile, the prosecution plans to present testimony from Robert Duncan, Shamar's brother, who supposedly was unaware of Shamar being armed or intending to shoot.

Meanwhile, the heroics of Poetsema's life resonate with both those back home and the individuals he has impacted internationally. His organ donation saved the life of a woman in the U.S., giving her a new pancreas. Throughout his career, Poetsema sought to epitomize the essence of a savior, even as a child, his family recounted to WTHR, donning a Superman logo and dreaming to join the army. His commitment shone through during the fall of Kabul, where according to Jansen, Poetsema located a way for many Westerners to evacuate amid chaos.

Coverage of Duncan's trial can be followed through local outlets such as WISH-TV, which reported on the commencement of proceedings.