The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

TWO police officers will face a manslaughter trial for killing Deangelo Evans, 20, in Mason’s Addition in 2018 after one officer pleaded not guilty to the charge on Friday.

Earlier last week the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) reversed an earlier decision not to charge any officer in the case.

Justice Gregory Hilton arraigned Inspector Akeem Wilson for manslaughter.

Wilson’s co-accused, Detective Corporal 3906 Donald Wright, once again failed to appear in court.

After pleading not guilty to the offense, Inspector Wilson was informed that his matter would proceed to trial before Justice Fritz Charles.

Inspector Wilson will return to the same court on February 17 for potential trial date fixture.

Evans, 20, was killed on May 27, 2018. Officers were responding to an alleged armed robbery. While the officers claimed that Evans was armed, several eyewitnesses said he was not.

A Coroner’s Court jury determined in 2023 that Evans’ death was a homicide by manslaughter, one of several such rulings in the last few years that prompted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to review the file and decide if criminal charges were warranted against officers.

The death of Evans, an avid Junkanooer and a member of the Shell Saxons Superstars, had sparked a firestorm in Mason’s Addition, prompting hundreds to attend a vigil where they mourned him and demanded answers.

Beverly Lee-Rolle, Evans’s mother, in an interview with the Tribune last week, said she was shocked but elated that officers were finally charged in her son’s death. She expressed hopes that this brings her family one step closer to justice.

Arrest warrants are still in effect for DC Wright and four other officers who failed to appear in Coroner’s Court last week when it was said their cases were also set to proceed to the Supreme Court.

Police Constables 3731 Kevin Greenslade and 3725 Robert Young, who were summoned in connection with the 2019 killing of 21-year-old Shanton Forbes in Yellow Elder Gardens, failed to appear.

Similarly, Constable 4185 Samuel Ferguson and former officer 4427 Shando King were called to answer for the 2023 killing of 42-year-old Valentino Johnson on Seven Hills Road but did not appear. Their VBIs are also ready.

The whereabouts of King, who previously absconded and has had an outstanding arrest warrant since September, remains unknown. He had been on bail for an unrelated attempted murder charge before disappearing last year.

Sergeant 2825 Antonio Sweeting, Sergeant 3039 Johnson, and Sergeant 3726 Deangelo Rolle were served VBIs for manslaughter in the fatal 2021 shooting of Azario Major, 31, on Fire Trail Road last year. Their trial is scheduled for June 2026.

Additionally, Constable Dennis Sturrup, charged with manslaughter in the 2017 fatal shooting of Gino Finley Jr, 15, during an alleged armed robbery at Seagrapes Plaza, is set to stand trial in May before Justice Grant Thompson.

K Melvin Munroe represented Inspector Wilson.