Dutch Soldier Killed In Indianapolis Shooting; 2 Others Injured

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — A Dutch soldier died after he was shot over the weekend in Indianapolis, according to authorities.

The commando was in critical condition in a hospital when he died Sunday night with his family and colleagues by his side, the Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands reported. The soldier was identified by the Indianapolis police as Simmie Poetsema.

Poetsema and two fellow soldiers were shot while off duty before 4 a.m. Saturday outside their hotel in the 100 block of South Meridian Street, authorities said, adding the surviving victims were conscious, able to speak, and expected to survive.

"Preliminary information suggests a disturbance occurred between the victims and the suspect(s) which resulted in the shooting," Indianapolis police said.

The three servicemen were members of the Commando Corps of the Netherlands and were in Indiana for training, according to the ministry. The soldiers had been training near Butlerville at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, which is used by the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO allies, according to the Indiana National Guard.

"IMPD has been in communication with various agencies within the United States and the Netherlands to coordinate family members coming to Indianapolis and returning the victims to the Netherlands," police said. "There is no information regarding any potential suspects or details of the investigation that can be released at this time."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Michael Wright at 317-327-3475 or Michael.Wright@indy.gov, or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 to remain anonymous.