14-Year-Old Boy Dies on Halloween Night After Mom Tried to Save Him Dragging Him to Safety

Like other 14-year-olds, Antoine Manning loved spending time with his friends and knew everything about the latest TikTok trends. The young man aspired to be a footballer but had no idea that an incident would soon end his life.

A ninth grader at Digital Pioneers Academy in Washington, D.C., Antoine Manning was his father's best friend. The two loved playing pranks on each other and couldn't stay apart for a long time.

Everything was going well in the father-son duo's life until this year's Halloween night when young Manning breathed his last. His untimely demise was something no one saw coming.

The Bright Young Boy

Manning loved playing football and dreamt of playing for the NFL. Apart from sports, the 14-year-old loved spending nights at his friend's place.

According to his father, Antoine Brown, Manning had a charming personality that helped him easily make friends. He was also popular among the girls because of his charismatic nature. Brown said:

"He was a ladies' man, like his father."

His Father's Best Friend

Besides being there for his friends, Manning shared a beautiful relationship with his father. He did respect Brown, but learning about their pranks could make people think otherwise.

Little did he know that Manning would tragically pass away a year later.

Brown revealed that he once pranked a sleeping Manning by pouring hot sauce on his mouth and covering his hands with toothpaste. In response, Manning served his father a glass of toilet water.

Spending Quality Time Together

Brown also enjoyed teasing Manning by refusing to leave when his son hung out with his friends. He knew it made Manning uncomfortable, but he did it on purpose just to hear his son ask him to leave.

Besides having fun with his child, Brown ensured his son wasn't indulging in bad habits. He would immediately warn Manning whenever he thought his son was doing something that could harm him in the long run.

In May 2021, Brown went for dinner with his son, unaware that it was the last meal he would share with him. The next day, Brown left for New York, hoping to see his boy again soon. Little did he know that Manning would tragically pass away a year later.

The Unfortunate Incident

On October 31, 2022, Manning looked forward to enjoying Halloween night like other kids in his neighborhood. The boy was unaware that his parents' worst nightmare would come alive just a few moments after he left his home.

At around 8:45 pm, shots were fired and Manning's neighbors recalled his mother trying to drag him away to safety. Soon, the first responders arrived and moved an injured Manning to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his death.

"I did not leave for my son to die," Brown said upon learning of the heart-wrenching incident. He also revealed that his son had survived a shooting incident three weeks earlier, but he couldn't escape his death this time.

Looking for the Suspects

According to authorities, Manning died in a targeted shooting, but they were unsure if the people behind the first shooting incident were involved in the latest one. Police also said they had images of the suspects involved in the previous incident.

While still looking for the suspects, the police released a photo of the suspect's vehicle, hoping citizens would help them find it. The authorities were determined to find the suspects.

"My grandson was a good boy. All he did was play football," Manning's grandfather said. Meanwhile, friends and family of the little boy had nothing but praise for him. They had never imagined losing the boy at such a tender age.

Remembering the Teenager

Soon after the young boy's death, a memorial popped up near where he died. His friends and family left personalized notes and hung his orange football jersey to remember him. Robert Contee, the police chief, said:

"This family should not be grieving the loss of a 14-year-old child tonight."

Parents in Manning's neighborhood feared the same would happen to their children after the teenager's untimely demise. They don't want to leave their children alone in the streets.

Losing a child is something no parent deserves to experience. We hope the parents of this little angel find the strength to deal with the pain of their irreplaceable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family and friends.

Click here to read about another heartbreaking incident where a 12-year-old girl died in a shooting incident in front of her mother while they were unloading groceries.