Daily Mail reports a tragedy that has struck the heart of the Manchester High School community as the death of sophomore football player Brandon Smith, 17, was reported on Dec. 10, a day before the team’s scheduled appearance in the state championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
“We are heartbroken to hear the news of the tragic and untimely death of one of our student-athletes,
Brandon Smith,” expressed Meriwether Schools Superintendent Robert Griffin and Manchester Principal Suze Neal in a letter.” Manchester High School’s celebration of playing for the Georgia 1-A State Football Championship has unfortunately turned into something none of us could have fathomed.”The circumstances surrounding Smith’s death, who was reported missing on Dec. 9, are currently under investigation by the Manchester Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and the Meriwether County coroner.
While details on the cause of death remain unconfirmed, WRBL-TV reported that officials were actively investigating a scene approximately half a mile from the school. The Manchester Police Department and GBI have been conducting crime scene processing, with the exact details expected to be disclosed by local authorities once the investigation concludes.
Immediate responses to requests for information from the Manchester Police Department were not received, and the coroner
conveyed that no information is currently available.As Manchester High School football coach Steven Holmes confirmed the Smith’s death, the Meriwether County School System shared an update on Facebook: “Brandon was a loyal teammate and friend who excelled on and off the field. He will be deeply missed.”
The Manchester Blue Devils were slated to face Bowdon in the Class A Division II final on Monday night, marking the school’s first championship game since 1997. Smith was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Manchester Blue Devils High School Football team.
As the Manchester community grapples with this loss, mental health support will be made available.