On August 30th, 1982, there was a special glow in the sun. The light seemed to burn brighter than the days before. On this day a beautiful bouncing baby boy was born, David Payne, Jr.

Some thirty years later on the evening of September 7, 2012, David Payne, Jr., a school teacher, was shot and killed by unknown assailants at the front door to the entrance of his home.

No witnesses have stepped forward as of this date.

David's family needs your help to create a reward fund that helps encourage witnesses and others to come forward with valuable information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of David Payne, Jr.

With the help of local and international donors, the family's goal is to raise $20,000 for the David Payne, Jr. Reward Fund. Please click here to contribute. Thank you for your consideration and  donations.

BY LOU MATTEI (VIRGIN ISLANDS DAILY NEWS). PUBLISHED: 5-DEC-2012
ST. THOMAS. U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

David Payne Jr. first met the president of the University of the Virgin Islands, David Hall, on graduation day last May.

"He was one of the most excited graduates we had," Hall said. "He gave me a big hug and was just so thrilled with that moment. The whole audience erupted when he came across the stage. It was memorable for me and him."

On Sept. 7, about four months later, Payne was gunned down in front of his Anna's Retreat home. He was 30 years old.

Linda Thomas, the dean of the School of Education at UVI...