SXMElections.com

~ One robber shot, caught; other on the run ~

By Judy H. Fitzpatrick

PHILIPSBURG--Bike patrol Police Officer Gamali “Benji” Benjamin was shot in the neck and reportedly also the head while responding to an armed robbery at Oro Diamante on Front Street around 1:00pm Wednesday.

Benjamin was in critical condition and clinging to life at SMMC up to late last night andreports indicated that efforts were being made to fly him abroad for further medical attention.

One robber was shot and captured and a second is on the run. Police and the Prosecutor’s Office said in a joint statement last night that the robber who had escaped was armed and “very dangerous,” and civilians should not attempt to take matters into their own hands and try to arrest him. (See related story.)

Authorities said a police bike patrol had been informed of an ongoing armed robbery at Oro Diamante Jewellery Store on Front Street. A two-man bike patrol arrived on the scene. One officer approached the main entrance of the jewellery store and was met by one of the armed robbers who started firing shots at the officer in question without any hesitation. The officer ran for cover, but was hit several times and fell to the ground severely wounded.

The other patrol officer responded by firing shots at the suspect, hitting him several times. This suspect tried to get onto an awaiting “dirt bike” to flee the scene, but both suspects fled the scene on foot, leaving the motorcycle behind, the release said. The suspect who had been shot was arrested on Cannegieter Street, authorities said. The other suspect continued fleeing towards Walter Nisbeth Road and escaped.

Both the injured officer and the suspect were treated on the scene by paramedics and transported to St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) where they were operated on immediately. The officer remains admitted in critical condition. The suspect who was shot remains admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for observation.

The Daily Herald understands that a young child also was rushed to SMMC for medical attention for bruises sustained while fleeing the scene.

The scene

A meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament had ended just before the shooting and several Members of Parliament (MPs), including Theo Heyliger, Tamara Leonard and Cornelius de Weever, had just emerged from the Parliament Building. The three were standing just outside the building’s entrance when a crowd of tourists, shoppers and other persons suddenly started running towards the Parliament Building and in other directions.

The first set of shots rang out soon after, sending people scampering for cover, including the MPs and others who were outside the building. The Parliament entrance door had just opened and everyone ran up the stairs. As the shots continued some persons in the Parliament Building ran into offices and rooms for cover.

The Parliament Building camera captured the bandits running in front of the building with officers in hot pursuit. A taxi in the vicinity of the Parliament Building was said to have been hit by some bullets during the shooting.

A large crowd quickly gathered to get a glimpse of the scene as persons, including a police officer and a medical professional, performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the shot officer. At one point two persons held a shade above the injured officer’s face to shade him from the sun.

Some spectators wept openly, others were vociferous about the situation and openly condemned the incident.

“Benji, you will live, in the name of Jesus you will live,” one woman wailed repeatedly as officers started to barricade the scene. Some emotional persons yelled for the ambulance to be called, even as the ambulance was already on its way.

“Don’t let him die,” another spectator said.

Evidence of the robbery was all around the scene, as several spent shells lay at several locations on the road. Two black helmets and two gloves lay on the street, two of them on the road just in front of the Parliament Building entrance. One woman said she also had seen some pieces of jewellery lying on the street, suggesting that the robbers might have dropped them while fleeing.

A pair of black Nike boots lay at the location near the old Fire Department building on Cannegieter Street where the shot bandit had been captured. An officer stood guard at the tagged evidence. The entire area eventually was cordoned off. When the chaos died down one bike patrol officer was seen sitting and weeping at the edge of the pavement close to the Parliament Building.  

Chief of Police Peter de Witte and several top brass of the Police Force were on the scene shortly after the incident occurred. A visibly shaken De Witte arrived running to the injured officer’s location. De Witte and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson were also at SMMC, where a small crowd gathered after Benjamin was rushed to the hospital.

Pray for Benjamin

As word spread about the robbery many persons turned to social media to vent their anger about the incident and about crime on the island in general. Many persons on Facebook commented about the robbery, most of whom called for prayers for Benjamin’s full recovery. Benjamin was hailed in several comments as a hero for his brave action in responding to the crime.

A post with Benjamin’s picture with the words “Pray for the brave” and another with the words “We speak life” were among several circulating on Facebook up to late last night. Most posts focused on prayers for Benjamin’s recovery.

If anyone has any information regarding this robbery, they should come forward and share this information or call #9300.