May 25, 2008 — Eight years ago, University of the Virgin Islands freshman Jason Carroll died in the middle of the afternoon on a downtown St. Thomas street, the victim of gun violence. He was 18 years old.
Sunday more than 200 runners honored Carroll's memory as they lined up on the waterfront in the fifth annual Walk/Run Against Gun Violence. He was the son of Celia and James Carroll. Months after their son died, Celia Carroll took action. She started a chapter of Mothers Against Guns (MAG) in the Virgin Islands, with James' full support.
Jerome Bute, 16, a Charlotte Amalie High School student, took overall honors Sunday, flying through the finish line at 12:27 minutes. Jessica Chung was the top female finisher at 13:27.
Finishers in each age category are at listed at the end of the story.
The race draws a cross-section of the community: students, housewives, teachers, mothers pushing strollers, professional folk, the island's perennial runners, usually a few visitors, a senator or two, and lots of people who simply want to support the Carrolls.
Entering the race for the first time this year were first lady Cecile deJongh and Cheryl Francis, wife of Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis. Panting not at all, Francis said, "I really don't know what my time was, I was so deep in conversation when I got back."
DeJongh, sporting an Obama T-shirt, sat on the wall surrounded by youngsters after the race.
"I have no idea what my time was, but I got here for the ceremony by five," deJongh said with a laugh. "I want to support the Carrolls — this is so important."
Ashley Bernier, pushing her daughter, Eleni, in a stroller, ran to catch up with the others about six or seven minutes after the race started, but she still came charging back at a decent 32 or so minutes.
"I was late getting out of the house, but I had to do it," she said. "Jason was my classmate at Montessori."
And, for the first year, Celia Carroll herself ran.
"I decided it was time," she said. "It took a lot out of me, but I had to do it."
Usually, she and James are too busy organizing the run to enter.
Among the early finishers were Heather Ackley and Mike Sheesly, gratefully throwing back cups of water. They said this was their first time.
"We just finished the Beach-to-Beach ocean race on St. John and we jumped on the ferry in time to make it," Sheesly said. "It's great to run for this cause. We'll be back next year."
At the awards ceremony in Emancipation Garden, Celia Carroll admonished the crowd of youngsters standing before her: "You took a pledge against gun violence. The moment you pick up a gun, there are consequences. We will not have our children gunned down on the streets of St. Thomas."
One participant who declined to be named found the message especially relevant in the wake of the recent gangland-style hospital shooting on St. Croix: "In light of what's happened on St. Croix, I hope this message sinks in."
The program held a special urgency this year because of that shooting, where five armed men entered Juan Luis Hospital in the middle of the night and gunned down a patient.
Carroll urged parents and teachers to get more involved in their children's lives, the theme that ran through the presentation, echoed by Cheryl Francis, mistress of ceremonies Ida White and St. Thomas-St. John Police Chief Rodney Querrard.
"This looks like a gun," Querrard said, holding up what appeared to be a revolver. "It's a lighter, and it's being sold in stores. Parents, if you see your child with one of these, take it away. It looks just like a .25-caliber gun. These same stores sell knives and machetes. If your child carries one of these, it could cost his demise."
Looking directly at the young men in the crowd, Querrard said, "Years ago if we had an argument at school, we'd make it up the next day. These days it's settled with guns — there is no next day. The police department needs you. The community makes the police department."
Kirwin Hodge, a Sts. Peter and Paul senior, won the annual essay contest. He will receive a scholarship in Jason Carroll's name for his freshman year expenses at UVI.
The Junior Firefighters took top honors for largest group with 40 participants. The oldest entrant was Evelyn Simon, 82, and the youngest was Monet Letang, one year, seven months.
The top three finishers in each category were:
Male 12 and under
Atteniah Roacher 13:22
Jonathan Fuller 15:38
Nicholas Midler 16:34
Female 12 and under
Jane Walla James 20:34
Imani Rivera 21:11
Tinea Hanley 25:49
Male 13-15
Jhote Samuel 12:56
Rhys Mack 18:24
Michael Turnbull 18:50
Female 13-15
Francis Lenahan 21:25
Jennifer Yan 25:40
Shaquilla Freeman 25:52
Male 16-19
Dale Carty 14:03
Raymond Chetam 14:55
Anthony Peters 15:37
Female 16-19
Tykela Lee 17:07
Daunette Hazel 18:25
Jasnique Oliver 20:01
Male 20-29
Michael Sheesley 12:56
Lindauson Hazel 15:18
Nicholas Lima 29:42
Female 20-29
Kelly Kraus 14:16
Jennifer Stafford 19:53
Damelia Correa 34:07
Male 30-39
Timothy Abraham 18:15
Roger Williams 22:19
Julian Harvey 34:50
Female 30-39
Heather Ackley 16:01
Monique Simon 17:19
Lisa Wisehart 20:27
Male 40-49
Jason Budsan 14:00
Steve Pinney 15:49
Richard Coles 16:23
Female 40-49
Rebecca Brahm 19:04
Nancy Murphy 19:37
Nancy Block 20:23
Male 50-59
Wayne Brandt 13:32
Mark Pippin 13:37
Henry Carr 16:27
Female 50-59
Gloria S. Lindquist 15:54
Mary-Ellen Anton Coles 16:49
Sandra Kelly 21:35
Male 60+
Vince Fuller 16:22
Bailey (no first name given) 17:50
Dale Carty Sr. 23:20
Female 60+
Fern LaBorde 26:39
Lynn Spencer 34:58.1
Evelyn Simon 34:58.9.
Click here for times for all runners.
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