INDIANAPOLIS — On Monday, Shamar Duncan was sentenced to 105 years in prison for shooting three Dutch soldiers and leaving Simmie Poetsema outside the Hampton Inn near Monument Circle in August 2022.
Duncan, 30, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery after a five-day trial in January.
In the early morning hours of August 27, 2022, Duncan engaged in a heated argument with the soldiers before escalating to violence.
Witnesses described Duncan as intoxicated and actively "looking for trouble." The confrontation quickly turned tragic when he pulled out his weapon and fired multiple shots, striking the soldiers who had been training in the United States.
One of the soldiers, 26-year-old Corporal Simmie Poetsema, lost his life in the attack from a single gunshot wound to the head, causing a skull fracture and severe damage to the brain.
Poetsema was a first-class corporal, according to The Netherlands Ministry of Defense. The defense ministry has said the soldiers were training at Muscatatuk Urban Training Center in Jennings County.
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Duncan will serve his 105 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Court records say he has credit for 910 days served plus 304 days earned.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears released the following statement after the sentencing:
This case is yet another example of the toxic and tragic combination of guns and alcohol. The defendant chose to escalate an already resolved conflict when he picked up his weapon, murdered Simmie, and shot his fellow soldiers. He destroyed many lives including his own and he will now serve a 105-year sentence as a consequence of his actions.
Simmie Poetsema was a decorated military veteran who dedicated his young life to serving and protecting others. His family has honored his memory and sacrifice by the extraordinary dignity and grace they have shown throughout this entire legal process.
