WILLEMSTAD – Two men were arrested on Curaçao yesterday morning in connection with the deadly armed robbery that took place on Caracasbaaiweg on August 20. During that incident, an off-duty police officer shot and killed one of the suspects.

At around 5:00 a.m. yesterday, police arrested a 21-year-old man at a home on Kaya Falcon in Muizenberg, where items were also seized. Later, around 7:30 a.m., a 20-year-old suspect was taken into custody at a company in the Brievengat industrial area. Both men, born in Curaçao, were brought before the public prosecutor and remain in custody pending further investigation.

The deadly robbery occurred when an off-duty female officer witnessed two armed men targeting vacationers who had just arrived at a resort apartment complex. One of the assailants reportedly held a firearm to the head of a female victim and demanded her car keys.

The officer drew her service weapon, identified herself as police, and fired warning shots. The suspects fled on foot, but the officer pursued them and fired aimed shots. She saw one suspect collapse, while the other managed to escape.

The injured suspect, identified as 19-year-old Edson Gijsbertha, died despite attempts by emergency services to save him. Police later recovered shell casings and parts of a firearm at the scene.