This does not sound quite right. They were on the French side of St. Martin, which is the relaxed, tolerant, very European side.
Either they were someplace they should not have been (native bar) or they were getting up to some serious hanky.
Crime on the island is more of the "steel your wallet" type, not serious violence.
The first story in the Miami Herald stated that the two were kissing and fondling at the bar. Not the healthiest thing to do when in a foreign country and you haven't had a chance to understand what is considered the "norm" by the locals.
All St. Maartin bars are as full of "natives" as they are of tourists.