WILLEMSTAD – The man who was shot by police on Sunday morning after a chase was holding an airsoft gun. Officers mistook the weapon for a real firearm during his arrest and opened fire, injuring the suspect.
At around 3:00 a.m., police signaled the driver to stop on Bargestraat. Instead of complying, he attempted to flee and crashed into a residential fence. He then reversed and hit a police vehicle. As officers approached him, they saw he was holding a weapon. One of the officers fired, hitting the suspect in the foot.
The 19-year-old suspect, J.R.C., born in Curaçao, was arrested for violating the weapons law. His vehicle and weapon were confiscated. It was later confirmed that the weapon was an airsoft gun, not a real firearm.
Airsoft Guns and Legal Implications
Airsoft guns are replicas of real firearms used in a sport where participants shoot small plastic pellets at each other. Although they are not lethal, they often closely resemble real weapons, which can lead to dangerous misunderstandings in certain situations. Curaçao has strict regulations on the possession and use of airsoft guns.
The injured suspect was transported by ambulance to the Curaçao Medical Center’s outpatient clinic for medical treatment. A judicial officer ordered his preliminary detention as investigations into the incident continue.