Tragedy struck late Saturday night when a Manchester High School student was killed and another was injured in a shooting in Columbus. The violence unfolded near Macon and Lake Shore roads, where Columbus Police Department found two vehicles riddled with bullets just before midnight. Responding to the scene at roughly 11:50 p.m., officers discovered two individuals with gunshot wounds, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
According to Atlanta News First, both victims were swiftly transported to Piedmont Hospital, where Daryus Bryant succumbed to his injuries at 12:53 a.m. The other student, who has been rushed into surgery, remains unidentified as of yet. The community reels from this incident, having suffered another loss when Brandon Smith, a football player from the same high school, was found dead in December last year. In that case, a 19-year-old has been charged with Smith's murder.
Meriwether County School System expressed their grief and called Bryant an "exceptional young man" excelling "in both athletics and academics" on Facebook. His untimely passing is expected to "cause concern and raise questions within our community," and the district has committed to offering support and counseling services to students. In remembrance, impacted by sorrow, the community was asked to keep both Bryant and the other injured student in their thoughts.
The loss was deeply felt by Bryant's father, Cartarsman Bryant, who stated in a interview with Atlanta News First, "I'm very proud of the man that he was, the man that he was becoming, and the athlete that he was." The father reminisced about his son who "was a great friend to his teammates" and "a very respectable young man." Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, with the assurance that a reward may be provided for details leading to an arrest.
As the Meriwether County community is mourning, the police investigation continues. Details are still emerging, and individuals with knowledge about the shooting incident are encouraged to contact Cpl. Roy Green using the phone number (706) 225-4261, or anonymously leave a message at (706) 225-3161.
