PHILIPSBURG:--- Following a police report about a shooting incident on Sunday, October 12, 2025, owners of local beach bars have come forward to clarify the location of the event. While the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) initially stated the shooting occurred at Kimsha Beach, business owners contend the incident took place at one of the nearby booths, not on the beach itself.
The original police report detailed a shooting that happened just after 10:00 p.m. in Simpson Bay. KPSM patrols and ambulance personnel were dispatched to the scene, where they found a male victim with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The victim was treated on-site before being transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), where he remains in critical but stable condition.
However, according to the beach bar owners, the altercation did not happen on the main beach area. They explained that a group of men were drinking at one of the booths when an argument broke out. One of the men then allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired two shots. The sound of the gunfire caused widespread panic, sending people on the beach and at the surrounding bars running for cover.
In light of this conflicting information, the beach bar owners have called on KPSM to issue a clarification to their initial press release to accurately reflect the incident's location.
The Criminal Investigation Department is actively investigating the shooting. KPSM urges anyone with information to contact detectives at +1 (721) 542-2222 ext. 204 or 205, or to use the anonymous tip line at 9300. Information can also be provided in person at the Philipsburg Police Station.
