Duty Death: Klayton Manning - [Luling]
End of Service: 09/06/2020
By Janelle Foskett
LULING, Texas — The man charged in the murder of 18-year-old Firefighter Klayton Manning and his cousin last week reportedly thought there were aliens in chasing him when he opened fire.
According to an arrest affidavit, Bryan Haynes, 34, went to his brothers’ house in Austin on Tuesday night, and told the siblings that he thought he was being chased by aliens in an ATV with firefighter decals – and that he shot the aliens.
Manning and his cousin, now identified as 16-year-old Landin Robinson, were reportedly riding a fire department ATV at the time of the shooting and tried to flee from Haynes, according to KENS5. Officials said more than 50 9mm cartridge cases were found on the scene.
Manning, who was on duty that night, was reportedly checking for smoke in the area.
Friends and family created a memorial outside Luling High School to honor Manning, who had just graduated with the Class of 2020.
Manning served as a firefighter with the Southeast Caldwell County Volunteer Fire Department (SECCVFD), and had planned to attend the TEEX Fire Academy later this year held at Texas A&M University in College Station.
SECCVFD said it has designated Robinson as an honorary firefighter.
GoFundMe accounts has been created to help the Manning and Robinson families.
SECCVFD is escorting Manning and Robinson back to Luling on Monday and have asked the community to line the streets for the procession.