Teen Pleads No Contest in Fatal Shooting of Manatee High Student
A Parrish teenager charged in the 2024 fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Manatee High School student has pleaded no contest in Manatee County Court.
Carter Layne, now 18, entered the plea Friday to a charge of manslaughter with a firearm in connection with the death of J.M. Feeney. The court deferred sentencing until September 24, according to court records. Layne was taken into custody following the hearing.
The shooting occurred on March 8, 2024, during a backyard gathering at a Bradenton residence where several teenagers had gathered. Investigators say Layne, who was 17 at the time, was handling a firearm and claimed it wasn’t loaded when it discharged, fatally striking Feeney. Layne was initially released on bond pending trial.
Feeney was a standout wrestler at Manatee High School and was well-known in the local athletic community. His funeral service was held in the Philippines last summer, honoring his family’s roots and his international ties.
While a no-contest plea does not admit guilt, it allows the court to proceed with sentencing as if the defendant had been found guilty. The plea also cannot be used as an admission in any future civil proceedings.
In the months since the incident, the community has rallied around the Feeney family. The Center of Anna Maria Island has announced plans to rename its sports park in Feeney’s memory, preserving his legacy within the local athletic community.
