~Seven Months later, Maurice Lake questions camera evidence, autopsy findings and police use of force~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Seven months after Rudy Benjamin was fatally shot during a police-involved incident in St. Peters, Maurice Lake, co-founder of the St. Peters Community Council, is demanding clear answers for Benjamin’s family and the wider community.
In a letter submitted to the editor, Lake said anger, suspicion, rumors, grief and unanswered questions continue to hang over St. Peters and the entire island of St. Maarten following the fatal shooting on February 13, 2026.
Lake warned that the prolonged absence of a public update is undermining the trust that community leaders spent years building between residents and the Police Force of Sint Maarten.
“The family and the people have the right to know the facts of what went wrong that fatal night,” Lake stated.
Questions about Camera Evidence
According to Lake, the last publicly available information indicated that the investigation into the police-involved shooting would be handled by the Prosecutor’s Office in Curaçao.
However, he said the community has not received any subsequent update regarding the status of the investigation, available camera evidence or the results of the autopsy.
Lake is particularly concerned about whether public surveillance cameras captured the incident.
He said a camera was installed on a public light pole along St. Peter's Main Road near the location where the shooting occurred. The community therefore wants to know whether the camera was operational, whether footage was secured, and whether investigators have examined it.
No conclusion can be drawn about what the footage may show unless the investigating authorities officially release or describe it. Nevertheless, Lake maintains that authorities must address the existence and status of any recording in the interest of transparency.
“The family and the community of St. Peters need to know the truth and see the public camera evidence,” Lake said.
Was Deadly Force Necessary?
Lake is also calling for investigators to determine whether the officers involved followed required procedures governing the use of force and made every reasonable effort to de-escalate the situation.
He questioned whether Benjamin presented an immediate threat and why a community police officer or other officers familiar with St. Peters were not called to help bring the situation under control.
“I truly don’t understand why the community police officer or other officers who know the community wasn’t called to de-escalate the situation instead of using deadly force,” Lake stated.
He also wants to know what happened immediately after Benjamin was shot, including whether officers attempted to administer CPR or other lifesaving assistance.
Lake pointed out that KPSM has invested in training and professional development for its personnel, including specialized instruction in lifesaving, emergency response, and community engagement.
“Did the officers apply any of that lifesaving or CPR training that fatal night?” he asked.
These questions do not determine the outcome of the investigation or establish that the officers acted unlawfully. They are, however, among the issues Lake believes must be answered to restore public confidence.
Years of Community Trust at Risk
Lake said founding members of the St. Peters Community Council spent years building cooperation and trust between residents and the police.
That relationship, he warned, is now under pressure because the community has received little information about the circumstances surrounding Benjamin’s death.
Community policing depends heavily on cooperation between residents and law-enforcement officers. That cooperation becomes more difficult when residents believe serious questions are being ignored or information is being withheld.
Lake said this was the first incident of its kind involving a St. Peters resident who, according to him, was not considered a threat to the community or society.
Benjamin was described as well-known and well-liked throughout St. Peters and the wider St. Martin community.
Family Has a Right to the Facts
Lake emphasized that Benjamin’s family should not be left indefinitely without answers about the circumstances in which their loved one died.
He is calling for the investigation to be completed without unnecessary delay and for its findings to be communicated transparently to Benjamin’s family and the public.
He also said accountability must follow if investigators determine that mistakes were made or that established procedures were not followed.
“The family and the people have the right to know the facts,” Lake reiterated.
The request for transparency does not mean investigators should disclose information that could compromise the case's integrity. However, seven months after the shooting, Lake believes the responsible authorities should at least provide the family and community with a meaningful update on the investigation’s status.
That update should address whether camera footage exists, whether it was secured, whether the autopsy has been completed and when the final investigative findings are expected.
Call for Prayer and Transparency
Despite the anger and unanswered questions, Lake urged the community to continue praying for Benjamin’s family, the police officers involved and a fair and transparent investigation.
“Let’s continue to pray to God for the family, the police and a transparent investigation by showing the public the camera evidence based on integrity,” he stated.
Lake said the St. Peters community is looking forward to the investigation being concluded as soon as possible.
Seven months after the fatal shooting, the central demand from St. Peters remains unchanged: the community wants the facts.
Residents want to know what the evidence shows, whether the use of deadly force was justified, whether lifesaving assistance was provided and when the independent investigation will finally be concluded.
Until those questions are answered, the cloud of suspicion, anger and grief surrounding the death of Rudy Benjamin will continue to hang over St. Peters and the wider St. Martin community.
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