Fears have been raised over a lack of value for human life after the Sandys community lost a second young man within a few weeks to a fatal stabbing.

Johnathan Darrell, 27, of Fairhaven Lane, was killed in the early hours of Saturday during a mêlée involving a number of people in the car park of the Rural Hill Plaza, Paget.

It comes after the death of Job-Solomon Tucker, 23, who was stabbed near his home on Woodlawn Road, Sandys, late last month — one of a number of knife incidents in the past few months.

While some have pointed to a growing trend of knives replacing guns as a weapon of choice, Jamahl Simmons, the Progressive Labour Party MP for Sandys South, said the Island needed to focus on getting to the root of its social problems.

“What is unfortunate is that our young men still view killing each other as a viable solution to the problems that they have with each other and that issue needs to be addressed,” Mr Simmons told The Royal Gazette.

“If you don’t address the root causes of why our young men are killing each other, it doesn’t matter whether they have knives or guns — they will use rocks if their minds have not been changed.

“There are a number of programmes in place but we really need to get with our youth at an early age and let them know that not only do they have value, but the people in the community around them have value as well.

“You cannot kill somebody who you see has value. You can not kill someone who you see as a human being.

“It is incumbent on us all that we have to give young men hope that there is something better for them.

“If you don’t see a future for yourself you are not afraid of going to jail, you are not afraid of hurting someone else. Life has no meaning, your life or anybody else’s.

“One life has ended, one family has been ruined and, if justice is done, another family’s life will be ruined and it is pointless.”

Mr Simmons said of his conversations with constituents over the weekend: “For many of the friends and family, this is very shocking.

“My deepest sympathies go out to the family. A parent’s worst fear is when your child leaves your home safely and they don’t come home at all.

“It’s every parent’s nightmare. The community is so closely connected here.”

He described Mr Darrell as “well-known, well-liked, well-loved and well-respected in the community”.

According to the Bermuda Police Service, Mr Darrell was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with an apparent stab wound to his chest, before being pronounced dead at 4.28am.

A police statement said: “A family liaison officer has been assigned to the family and the Bermuda Police Service extends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”

Police said more than 30 people were in the area at the time and are appealing for witnesses, or anybody involved, to call Acting Inspector Jason Smith on 247-1218 or e-mail jsmith2@bps.bm.

You can also call the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800 8477.