PHILIPSBURG - On Wednesday 3 June an armed robbery took place at at Econofood Supermarket, resulting in the tragic death of a male Canadian tourist indentified with initials S.V.

During the robbery the victim and his daughter were attacked by an unknown person who during a brief struggle was shot. 

 

On Friday morning 5 July the police chief and officers investigating of the attempted armed robbery learnt that one of the suspects in this case has died at the Sint Maarten Medical Center as a result of the wound he sustained during the shooting. The body of the victim in the meanwhile has been confiscated for further investigation.

 

Police Chief Carl John and his management-team will give cooperation legally required for the investigation that will be conducted by the Federal Detectives (Landsrecherche) in connection with the shooting of the two armed robbers by an off-duty police officer at Econofood Supermarket on Welgelegen road which took place on Thursday 4 July at approximately 08.00 p.m. The chief of police will definitely fully stand firm behind the heroic actions taken by the officer to protect those that were in supermarket at time of the robbery. The officer’s action clearly shows that the job of a police officer is not as simple as it may seem and also shows how officers go beyond the call of duty by putting their life on the line to protect the community and the visitors to the island. The officer in question was in the establishment while the robbery was taking place and decided not to back down but instead confronted both armed suspects using the service fire-arm. During this confrontation the officer managed to apprehend both suspects.

 

KPSM is also sending out e very stern warning to those youngsters who are involved in any criminal activity to refrain from doing so, because KPSM will do everything within boundaries the laws to arrest you and bring you to justice. KPSM will never stop. KPSM will without any doubt continue to serve and protect the community of Sint Maarten and the visitors to the island to the best of our ability. KPSM also warns that threatening the employees of the organization as a whole or an employee as an individual is unacceptable. This criminal behavior will not be tolerated and legal actions will immediately be taken against them.

 

In the meanwhile KPSM is making sure that the officer in question receives all the necessary support and psychological treatment.