DAWN BEACH--Two men are in the hospital after they were shot during a shootout at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa on the second floor of the parking structure Sunday morning.
A bystander who was nearby jumped off the second floor to save himself and fractured one of his legs when landing in the garden below. A white SUV and a blue Hyundai I20 are believed to have been the vehicles used to transport the victims to the Emergency Room at St. Maarten Medical Center.
Police were still gathering information as to why these men were in the parking structure and what exactly transpired. Two small cars were seen speeding off from the scene and the incident is under investigation.
Police spokesman Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson said, “At approximately 10:15am, the Emergency Dispatch received a call of a shooting which had taken place on the second floor parking lot of The Westin Resort.
“The caller(s) also stated that at least two persons were injured as a result of the shooting. According to witnesses, the suspects may have fled the scene in two small white vehicles after the incident. Immediately several police patrols and paramedics were sent to the location to investigate what had taken place.
“[The injured persons – Ed.] were both treated on the scene and transported to St. Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. The scene was immediately closed off by police for the Forensic Department to collect evidence and conduct an in-depth crime-scene investigation. Detectives were also on the scene speaking to potential witnesses.”
It is believed that police confiscated close to US $60,000 in cash in the white SUV that carried one of the shooting victims to the hospital. However, police had not confirmed this up to press time.
