INDIANAPOLIS — A man from Indiana has received a sentence of 105 years in prison following the fatal shooting of a Dutch soldier in downtown Indianapolis in 2022, which also left two other soldiers injured.
On Monday, a judge from Marion County sentenced Shamar Duncan to 60 years for murder, 35 years for attempted murder, and an additional 10 years for aggravated battery, all of which are to be served consecutively.
Last month, a jury found Duncan guilty of the charges against him. The incident involved 26-year-old Simmie Poetsema, along with two other soldiers who were training at a military camp in southern Indiana. During a night off in Indianapolis, the soldiers were walking back to their hotel when they encountered Duncan and a group of his associates, as detailed in court documents.
According to witness testimonies, the soldiers attempted to de-escalate the situation, but a brief altercation ensued before gunfire erupted from a nearby pickup truck. Poetsema served in the Dutch Commando Corps, which highlights the military background of the victim.
Duncan reportedly told a friend that he opened fire on the soldiers after experiencing a sudden emotional outburst, stating that he “just spazzed,” according to an arrest affidavit. During the sentencing, Duncan expressed remorse to the victims’ families and also conveyed his apologies to his own family, saying he felt he had “let them down.”
The case has garnered significant attention due to the nature of the crime and the international implications involving a member of the Dutch military. The harsh penalty reflects the severity of the actions that led to the tragic loss of life and injury to two others.
