HOPEWELL, Hanover – A tough talking superintendent of police in charge of Hanover, Sharon Beeput is challenging murderers to take responsibility for their actions, instead of trying to evade the law.

“Why do you run? If you decide to kill a man, do not run. Stand up and face the penalty,” she said during an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Monday.

She was providing an update on Sunday’s fatal shooting of a man an hour before a march for peace in Hopewell. The shooting, which took place on McQuarrie Road, reportedly stemmed from a dispute over parking. Beeput and her team continue their search for the shooter.

“These days, people can’t talk again. The communication link is not open. You have somebody open their mouth and the first thing is to get a gun or get a knife and kill somebody. It makes no sense; and then guess what? When you do it now, you start to run all over the place,” said the superintendent of police.

The murder of 21-year-old labourer Adrian Williams took place about 3:00 pm, forcing the Hopewell Peace Initiative to push back their start time by two hours as police processed the scene and participants scouted for another spot from which to begin their march.

For some, Williams’ death hammered home the importance of taking a stand against violence.

“That incident allowed us to see the need to go on with this particular event, to let those who are creating havoc in the community know that we have control in how the community operates,” said justice of the peace (JP) Marcia Whitter Webster.

She thanked the police for ensuring that the march and concert that followed were successfully staged as she believes both will have a positive impact on the community.

“We cannot give in to those who want to destroy what we have,” said Whitter Webster who pointed to the message she sees in the name Hopewell.

“We want it to remain a community that offers ‘hope’ and ‘well’-being to those who live here,” she said.

Superintendent Beeput agrees and she is urging those working towards peace in the area to keep at it.

“In spite of what happened, we continue to pursue these persons who are involved in illegal activities. Let not that incident dissuade [others] from continuing to partner with the police and to stand up for what they believe in,” she said.

She encouraged others to support the group and say, “Enough is enough. We are tired of this crime and violence and we need to take some action.”

Among those engaged in the fight to restore peace to Hopewell is a man of the cloth who has urged residents to return to God and never stray again.

“We have not been here for the first time. The Hopewell community has been here before and if you recall a couple years ago the churches came together and decided to have joint watch night services. We decided to pray together and God restored our community. But after a while, we forgot God,” Reverend Ronald Webster of the Hopewell Missionary Church said to the crowd that gathered in Hopewell Square on Sunday. “We are back where we were a couple years ago and I pray to God that we don’t leave here… [that] we stay the course this time.”

According to chairman of the Hopewell Peace Initiative, Jermaine Bell the idea for the latest push came about two months ago following the killing of four people — two were stabbed and the others shot.

“The killings that are going on, you notice that it is the youths that are getting involved. We need to take charge and to let them know that we love them and killing is not the only way,” stated Bell.

He can still remember the horror he experienced when he went to one of the crime scenes.

“I was so devastated. It was like my belly shift,” recalled Bell.

Also among those fighting for peace in Hopewell is Walter Walker, an ex-army man who has fond memories of a peaceful community when he was growing up. He has been a JP since 1995, a role he uses to try and convince youngsters to stay on the right path. He is often distressed by the violence he sees.

“I am a street JP. Some people say I am the one that most of the young people come to, which is a fact. I find time for them, to help nurture them and encourage them. Give them a chance of hope to make their lives better. I proudly do that,” Walker told Observer West.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Hanover Eastern, Dave Brown who also spoke longingly of the days when Hopewell was peaceful, blames outsiders for the current problems.

“Now we have a situation where Hopewell is having a lot of migrants. These persons from outside seem to be filtering into the community — mostly the McQuarrie and the Camp Road area. I don’t know what is happening, but they are targeting those communities,” he said.