Indianapolis man sentenced 105 years for killing Dutch soldier in 2022

Feb. 25 (UPI) -- An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 105 years in prison for fatally shooting a Dutch soldier and wounding two others in front of a hotel in 2022.

Shamar Duncan, 26, was sentenced Monday, a little more than a month after a jury convicted him of killing Royal Netherlands Army Soldier Simmie Poetsema.

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His conviction was announced by Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, who called the case "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," Mears said in a statement.

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"He destroyed many lives including his own and he will now serve a 105-year sentence as a consequence of his actions."

Three Dutch soldiers were shot early on Aug. 27, 2022, outside of an Indianapolis hotel where they were staying and were transported to a local hospital where Simmie died days later.

Authorities said the shooting erupted following a dispute between the victims and the suspect, who was later identified as Duncan and arrested.

Duncan shot the three soldiers multiple times as they were walking back to their hotel, prosecutors said during the five-day trial.

He was convicted of murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery.

The soldiers were members of the Dutch Commando Corps and were in Indiana to participate in training.