In the late 19th century, a dedicated police officer in Bessemer, Alabama, met a tragic and untimely end while in the service of his community. Officer John Riley Manning, a 26-year-old Caucasian male, had been with the Bessemer Police Department for eighteen months when he was fatally shot on April 5, 1889. His death occurred as he was attempting to serve a warrant at the residence of a suspect.
The events leading to Officer Manning's death began earlier that day when the suspect had
made threats to kill another man. Armed with a Winchester rifle, the suspect was considered dangerous. Despite the inherent risk, Officer Manning, accompanied by two other officers, proceeded to the man's home to serve the warrant. Upon their arrival, they called for the suspect to come outside. The suspect responded that he needed to light a lantern and asked for a match.
After a brief delay, the man opened his door and requested a match from Officer Manning. The officer obliged, and the man retreated inside to light his lantern. Moments later, he reopened the door, and as Officer Manning stepped across the threshold, the suspect fired the Winchester rifle, striking the officer in the chest and killing him instantly. The other officers on the scene returned fire, but the suspect managed to escape in the immediate aftermath.
Following the shooting, a manhunt ensued, leading to the eventual capture of the suspect. He was arrested and subsequently charged with the murder of Officer Manning. The legal proceedings concluded with a guilty verdict, and the man was sentenced to death for his crime. On May 9, 1890, the man who murdered Officer John Riley Manning was executed by hanging. Officer Manning was survived by his mother, parents, and siblings.
