The family of Deangelo Evans remember the anniversary of his death yesterday. Photos: Terrel W Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
By Rashad Rolle
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
ONE year later, “Justice for Dee” markings still mark the walls of the Mason’s Addition community where Deangelo Evans was killed by police.
The markings, plastered on homes and around the community park, are the visible signs of a community that refuses to forget or move on.
Evans was one of 11 people killed by police last year, his death sparking the most turmoil. His family and friends gathered at the Father Marcian Cooper Park last evening to mark the anniversary.
Authorities said they were responding to an armed robbery of a store on East Street and Bethel Ground Corner on May 27, 2018 when Evans, one of the people they believed matched the description of the suspects, was shot and killed. They said he brandished a weapon. They also said they recovered a .40 calibre weapon from the scene. Residents disputed the police account of what happened.
The family has hired Wayne Munroe, QC, to represent them. However, the matter has not yet come up before the Coroner’s Court.
Wearing green shirts that said “One year anniversary - still no justice for Dee,” the family visited Evans’ burial spot at Woodland Gardens before gathering yesterday evening at the community park.
“We know there’s protocol,” said Evans’ aunt, Karen Russell. “We know there’s a waiting period, but still, all the family is crying out for is somebody to come to us and tell us what happened.”
In the last year, the Mason’s Addition community has found ways to highlight the incident. A music video was released, Evans was honoured during the 2018 Labour Day parade and was featured on costumes and placards during last year’s Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Junkanoo parades.
“We’re not letting this die,” Ms Russell said. “The spirit is still there. Right now we are in the lion’s mouth and whenever they call the inquest, they could be stink and wait two more years to do so, but we want people to realise we will be there to push for it.”
Beverley Lee, Evans’ mother, broke down in tears at the burial site.
“It was rough and empty,” she said of the last year. “I’ve been in and out. Some days I have good days, some days I have bad days. There just no peace for me right now, no closure. If I sit down and my mind go on him, I’ll have a sad day because I keep replaying what happened in my mind.”
Comments
John 4 years, 11 months ago
The commissioner says there will be tragedies. And he also claims (after the last police home invasion that left three Bahamians dead) his men are highly trained and skilled, which when taken with the statement from Marvin Dames, "the police had to do what they had to do", could mean that the intention of the police was to kill three men in that house. A culture of police killing subverts the course of natural justice. It leaves to many unanswered questions and too many family and friends without closure. And when citizens view the police of using too much excessive and deadly force, it creates a greater divide between the police and the community. And based on the comments from the minister of national security and the commissioner, it is a method of policing that will continue and will continue to leave many more Bahamian men dead. The police are now licensed to kill!
John 4 years, 11 months ago
The family needs to get a lawyer with the resolve of a Fred Smith and due this government and Anthony Ferguson and Marvin Dames for One Billion Dollars . This is more than wrongful death, this is cold blooded murder! And the coward PM who knew this young man personally, sits on his hands and says nothing. The Bible calls them ‘dumb dogs that refuse to bark.’ They are not dumb because they cannot bark, but they are dumb because they refuse to exercise the powers given unto them!
TigerB 4 years, 11 months ago
"A Coroner’s Court jury unanimously concluded yesterday the 2010 police killing of Walden Mitchell, a former police officer, was a justified homicide."
I just read thatone above a minute ago. It had no place for comments. But this one here has a place for comments All are police killings... might be bias reporting in my opinion. Its best to wait on the coroner's inquest...
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