Evans’ Family Still Demanding Justice

Relatives of a man who was killed by police in 2018 says the wait for justice is depressing, but they will wait as long as it takes.

It’s been nearly four years since Deangelo Evans was killed, but the matter hasn’t come up for a coroners inquest.

Deangelo Evans’ relatives get overwhelmed with emotion as they speak about the 20-year-old’s killing by police back in 2018.

The incident took place on May 27th, 2018. During a media briefing, then Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash said police were responding to an armed robbery near East Street and Burial Ground Corner around 9:15AM, when they travelled to McCullough Corner and met two men who matched the description of the suspects. Cash said one of the assailants produced a firearm, and police opened fire.

But Evans’ family and witnesses were adamant that he was innocent, saying he was running an errand for his grandmother when he was killed.

Our News spoke to Evans’ family at their home in Mason’s Addition, not far from where he was killed. His family describe him as a quiet person, who loved Junkanoo. They say he was not a criminal, and to the contrary, he was developing a strong reputation in the cultural community.

It’s been 3 years and 7 months since Evans’ killing, and the matter hasn’t come up for a coroners inquest. The delay is largely blamed on the Covid-19 pandemic. Evans’ mother, Beverly Lee-Rolle, says she doesn’t buy the excuses and calls the wait depressing.

Defense Attorney Christina Galanos has represented many families during coroners inquests. She says they are often left out in the cold, and with little communication from police after their loved ones are killed.

During the opening of the legal year, Chief Justice Brian Moree acknowledged that coroners court operations were largely hampered due to Covid. However, he announced that the acting coroner was able to deal with some matters in 2021, and one matter so far for 2022. That may be little comfort to Evans’ family, who have continued to rally support, prominently displaying signs in the neighborhood that read justice for Dee. The wait is long, but it’s not discouraging them from seeking the justice they want.