In the small community of Unionville, Tennessee, a young man's life was tragically cut short in the early morning hours of December 1, 2019. Riley Tanner Hancock, an 18-year-old male, was at a house party on Cartwright Road in Bedford County when a gathering of friends turned into a scene of profound loss. Remembered as a kind and respectful person, Riley was a beloved son, brother, and friend to many in his community.
The devastating incident unfolded around 3 a.m.
when a friend of Riley's, 19-year-old Antonio Lanham Mancilla, began handling a pistol he had recently acquired. According to the investigation that followed, Mancilla was under the impression that the firearm was not loaded. In a fateful and irreversible moment, he pointed the gun at Riley and fired, inflicting the fatal wound that would end the young man's life.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Antonio Lanham Mancilla was taken into custody and faced a charge of reckless homicide. A bond was set at $1 million as the community grappled with the senselessness of the event. The loss of Riley Hancock reverberated through his family and friends, who gathered for a memorial service on December 7, 2019, at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel in Shelbyville to honor his memory. The tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise from the mishandling of firearms.
