Everyone who knew 24 year old Alwayne Cherrington had nothing but positive things to say about him. He was kind, friendly, and mannerly and very involved in the services and peer activities at the Latter Day Saints Church…just a model young man. That's why when Cherrington was executed on Saturday night after 7:00 in the comfort of his family's home, the entire neighborhood was shaken. I went out to find more answers on this puzzling case.
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Alwayne Cherrington spent most of his days here at the BCVI Lab. He had been a lab technician in the Glasses Production Unit for about a year and just in that time, he became a major asset to the organization - customizing these glasses to fit every single client.
Carla Ayres Musa, Deputy Director, BCVI
"He came on and instantly just impressed everyone with his very charming personality. Very soft spoken and very quiet but also very bright and very intelligent."
With his skills and intellect, Alwayne would have had a promising future at BCVI. He was even planning to get certified and eventually become a doctor.
But now those big plans are now just vacant dreams
On Saturday night Alwayne was shot and killed at his mother in law's house. He had gone to get a piece of her famous potato pone and just spend some time with her and her grand kids. Alwayne was sitting on this sofa right next his to his wife, and 3 year old stepdaughter when gunman came up by the doorway and shot him in the head several times.
Shantel Cherrington, Wife
"When I heard the shots, I thought it was pop shots. In my mind I was like 'who is so brazen to come and just throw dynamite in my mom's house', that's what I had in my mind. I didn't know it was gun shots until I reached that door and reality hit me. I look back and I saw my husband trenched in his blood just bleeding from his mouth. That's when I realize he got shot, I didn't know where on his body he got shot, so I ran towards him and I was holding him. I got a towel from someone, I don't know who gave me the towel, and I was wrapping it around him, cleaning his mouth, trying to get the blood that was coming and I was trying to stop. I didn't know where, I didn't know it was in his head."
Eyewitnesses say the gunman left his bicycle behind, jumped on a waiting motorcycle and sped off after he shot Alwayne. But his family and the entire community are still trying to come to terms with what happened. They are all stunned because they say he was loved and respected by everyone.
Voice of Mother
"Like what everyone is saying, he isn't a trouble to anyone, he isn't anyone's company that he hangs with. Just sometimes he would meet up with his same church brothers and they would choose different houses where they go and just do a little BBQ together then they would drop him back home. But he doesn't go to club, parties, nothing. Just from work to home and from home to church. That was just his life."
A modest life, but one that had such a gruesome end.
Cherrington had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. He had only been married for about 2 years and had no children with his wife.
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