MARIGOT: --- A man known in the community of St. Maarten as "Flashlight" whose real identity is Clinton Henry surrendered to the Gendarmes last Saturday. Flashlight, is the suspect that shot Arinaldo Hanley (23) to death two Sundays ago by Brooks Car Wash in French Quarter. The Gendarmerie confirmed that a suspect surrendered last Saturday and he has been placed in garde à vue in St. Martin as the investigation into the latest homicide continues.
The early morning shooting left another suspect Marlon Brooks with multiple gunshot wounds, he was admitted to the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital but later flown to the Dominican Republic for further treatment.
According to information provided to SMN News, Flashlight surrendered to the Gendarmes after feeling guilty for shooting to death one of his best friends. SMN News further learnt that Brooks and Flashlight had some sort of argument about one week before the shooting over a basketball game at the Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg. Relatives of the victims said that Brooks won a game and that did not sit well with "Flashlight".
They explained that on the morning of the shooting when Flashlight visited French Quarter where the illegal motorcycle race is held every week he saw Brooks and went to confront him about the feud they had at the Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg. Eyewitnesses at the scene said that Marlon Brooks pulled out a hammer and lashed Flashlight in order to defend himself from his attacker. It is also reported by eyewitnesses that Arinaldo Hanley tried to stop the fight by holding on to Marlon Brooks which gave Flashlight the opportunity to pull out his gun and fire shots which killed his friend on the spot.
A press release from the Gendarmes states that the alleged perpetrator of the homicide committed on October 13th, 2013 has been arrested. The press release further states that on morning of October 13th, 2013 an argument between three men broke out near Brooks Car Wash in French Quarter. At some point several gunshots were fired, two of the shots hit Hanley who died of his injuries while the second person was seriously injured in his leg area. The main shooter fled the scene of the crime in car towards the Dutch side of the island. On the scene the gendarmes found one of the victims (Hanley) where hundreds of onlookers were while the second victim was admitted at the Marigot Hospital. Gendarmes even placed a security device on the premises of the hospital to avoid further disturbance. The press release from the Gendarmes further stated that after contact with the people around the suspect, he decided to surrender on Saturday October 19th, 2013 at the Gendarmerie where he was placed in custody. The suspect has been identified as H.C.A. He appeared before the Prosecutor on Monday in Pointe a Pitre where he was officially charged and placed in remand at the Basse Terre prison facilities.
