25 years on Hero who tried to stop robbery remembered
IThe whole community pulled together to help the police trace the gunmen. Everyone in Bristol can be proud of Bangy and his friends Former PC David Warren
N the early hours of New Year’s Day 1996 the community of St Paul’s lost one of its most cherished members, Evon Berry, known by his friends and colleagues as Bangy.
David Warren, the police commander for the inner city area of Bristol at the time, has recalled the night Evon was fatally shot and how Evon ‘Bangy’ Berry has been sorely missed by his family and the St Paul’s community for 25 years.
Mr Berry was a father-of-three and worked as a caretaker at the Malcolm X Community Centre in St Paul’s.
In the early hours of New Year’s Day 1996 Bangy was travelling home from a New Year’s Eve function when, in an attempt to intervene in a robbery, he was shot at the age of just 37.
Bangy’s final words were “Peace man, it’s New Year’s Day.”
Former police officer Mr Warren, who was at the scene in St Paul’s on the night of Bangy’s death, told the Post Mr Berry “gave his life advocating peace.”
“The local community was at first numbed by the death of such a wellknown and loved local man,” said Mr Warren.
“Even known criminals came forward to give information on who the men were.
“The whole community pulled together to help the police trace the gunmen.
“Everyone in Bristol can be proud of Bangy and his friends.
“There is a memorial for him in St Paul’s and Avon And Somerset Police recommended him for a bravery award and he was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his bravery.”
The former police officer said that Mr Berry’s death prompted recognition of the need to keep the local community of St Paul’s feeling “informed and safe.”
The community of St Paul’s has felt a deep sense of loss since Mr Berry’s death.
But the long-term support of all members of the community has made “coping less difficult,” Mr Berry’s widow Linda told the BBC.
Following the tragic event, local residents held a memorial event and formed ‘Bangy’s Memorial Group’.
A permanent plaque in memory of Mr Berry was unveiled in St Thomas Street, Montpelier in 2012.