The Tribune

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.”