A mother whose teenage son was robbed of life in a double killing last year said today that the entire island must come together to tackle homicide.

Chrystal-Lynn El spoke out days before the one-year anniversary of the shooting deaths of Amon Robinson, her son, and Razi Garland, her godson.

Ms El said during a police press conference that murder was not just a problem for her and the victims’ families but an issue for Bermuda as a whole.

She added: “Violence doesn’t discriminate — it doesn’t care about your social status, your family name or your neighbourhood.

“If we continue to think that this only happens to other people’s children, we will continue to lose our young men and women.

“We will continue to attend funerals instead of graduations.

“We will continue to plan memorial services instead of celebrations of achievements.”

Mr Garland, 18, and Mr Robinson, 19, were fatally shot in the Scaur Hill area at about 6.05am on July 10, 2024.

Two suspects were arrested that month and released on police bail.

The Bermuda Police Service held a press conference yesterday, when an appeal for information was renewed.

Ms El pointed out that there had been about 134 murders in Bermuda over the past 30 years.

She added that, when judged against a population of about 63,000, it meant that “every neighbourhood on every street and every family have felt the ripple effects of violence”.

Ms El said: “I don’t want to change the world today — I want to challenge us to change how we think about these tragedies.

“I want us to shift from ‘it could be my child’ to ‘this is a collective problem that we can solve together’.”

She added: “The truth is, it could be your child. It could be your grandson, your nephew, your neighbour’s son.

“It could be the young man who packs your groceries or who cuts your grass or who sits next to your child at school.”

Ms El urged anyone with information to come forward, adding that “your silence protects no one”.

Ms El said: “Your silence only ensures that another family will stand where I'm standing today — begging for answers, pleading for justice and asking for change.

“We are better than this. Bermuda is better than this. Our young people deserve better than this.”

The two teenagers were cousins who graduated from The Berkeley Institute in 2023 and were known for their joint landscaping services.

Mr Robinson was noted for his strong work ethic and work in the Devonshire community after volunteering to clear out cane grass around the parish.

Mr Garland, a former deputy head boy and Green House captain, had received multiple scholarships and had dreams of becoming a psychologist who would help high school students.

Oscar Riley, Mr Garland’s stepfather, appealed to the public for help in solving the double murder.

He added: “Thank you to the greater community as well for having us in their thoughts and offering comfort.”

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Kenten Trott said that the Serious Crime Unit continued to investigate the two murders.

He said that community involvement was “crucial and critical to bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice”.

He reminded the public that the victims’ futures had been “full of promise” and that their loss had “left a lasting impact on those who knew them”.

Mr Trott could not comment on why the two were in Scaur Hill at the time or whether police believed that the shooting was connected to any other incidents.

He said that police had particular interest in people who were in the Scaur Hill area at roughly the time of the shooting.

Mr Trott added: “All information received will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

“Every detail would help bring justice and closure to the families and to our community.”

Anyone with information was urged to contact Acting Detective Inspector Anneka Donawa on 717-2250 or by e-mail at adonawa@bps.bm.

They can also call the main police number, 295-0011, or the confidential and independent Crime Stoppers hotline, 800-8477.

• Video by Joaquin O’Connor

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