CHANTILLY, Manchester — Police here say they are following st
rong leads into last Friday’s murder of 2022 prime minister youth awardee for excellence in agriculture Ceejay Cunningham.

Head of the Manchester police, Deputy Superintendent Carey Duncan, said the investigation is progressing smoothly.

“We hope to bring a close to this one in very short order. I would just like to say to the community, don’t give up on us, as we don’t intend to give up on you. It is important that we continue the partnership,” he said.

Twenty-nine-year-old Cunningham, who had inspired his peers, was shot dead Friday evening while tiling a house in Davyton, near Bellefield in the parish.

A police report said about 5:45 pm Cunningham and another man were working inside an unfinished house when an armed man entered and opened fire. Cunningham was shot multiple times in the upper body. His colleague was shot in the leg.

On Monday, Duncan led a team of investigators, community safety and security personnel, political representatives, and religious leaders on a walk through in Davyton and the neighbouring community of Chantilly.

“We believe that this is a very senseless killing. A very promising young man who was about to do great things in our community and for our country, to see him taken out this way, it is very unfortunate,” he said.

The police also visited Cunningham’s family home in Chantilly where religious leaders prayed for his mother, Joan Lewis, and relatives.

Lewis told journalists that she felt reassured by the police’s presence.

“It makes a difference, because a lot of times things happen and we don’t see people get that level of support from the police. Seeing them coming here, I really appreciate it,” said the distraught mother.

Cunningham had made his community of Chantilly proud after he won the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence in Agriculture two years ago.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in a statement, described Cunningham as a promising young entrepreneur and beloved member of the community of Chantilly district in Manchester.