‘He was special to us’: Family of man fatally shot in Cambridge in 2022 speaks out

The man who pleaded guilty in a fatal hit-and-run involving a Guelph cyclist will wait longer to learn his fate. CTV’s Ashley Bacon reports.

The sister-in-law of a man killed in Cambridge is speaking out about the pain the family still lives with three years later.

Adam Jennings, 46, was fatally shot by a teen on Feb. 20, 2022 at a Cambridge apartment building.

The family said they feel they didn’t get justice through the court process.

Kristy Conran, his sister-in-law, said they continue to fight and advocate in Jennings’ name, hoping that some change can come from their loss.

At the time of his death, Jennings was staying with Conran and her husband Chris who is Jennings’ twin brother.

“Adam was very much a go getter. He was a hard worker,” Conran said.

Conran describes the loss is devastating.

“It’s hard to even explain that. Like and for anybody to understand how painful losing somebody is one thing, but losing somebody to guns and violence is absolutely unexplainable. It really is,” she said.

Details of shooting

The shooter was 17 at the time. His identity is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Originally he was charged with first degree murder. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Conran said while she hoped the court would treat him as an adult, the judge decided otherwise.

“We held hands and hopeful the entire time. It’s all you can do. It’s all you can do is just pray that they see that Adam was somebody special. He was special to us,” Conran said.

Remembering Adam

Conran said her brother-in-law is remembered for his love of fishing and his desire to help people whenever he could.

“Adam had a whole life to live here. He had children still to raise. He became a grandfather eight months ago. There was still a lot for that man to do in this world,” Conran said.

There’s a shelf at Conran’s home dedicated to memories of Jennings. There was also a medal sent to them as Jennings was an organ donor.

Conran and her husband spend a lot of time with Jennings’ youngest daughter who they say was too young when she lost her father to remember him much. She still draws pictures of him with angel wings.

“That’s our happiness. That’s all we really kind of have,” said Conran.

The family is calling for changes to the youth criminal justice system. Conran says if a person can drive a car at 16, they should have to take responsibility for their actions.

She’s been in touch with the MP in her area and hopes sharing her brother-in-law’s story will help create changes in the future.