Parrish man sentenced after ‘reckless’ shooting that killed Manatee High student
A judge sent a Parrish man to prison Wednesday for the fatal shooting that killed a Manatee High School student in 2024.
Carter Thomas Layne, 19, will spend 20 years in prison after he pleaded no contest in July to manslaughter with a firearm in the death of 17-year-old Jann Michael Feeney. Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio also ordered six months of house arrest and four-and-a-half years of probation as part of the sentence.
The charge stemmed from a gathering in West Bradenton where investigators say Layne repeatedly pointed a revolver at others before aiming it at Feeney and firing, even after friends urged him to stop playing with a loaded firearm.
The packed courtroom, where many wore green — Feeney’s favorite color — fell heavy with emotion Wednesday as relatives and friends from both sides spoke through tears.
Victim’s family ‘overwhelmed’ after death
Michael Feeney, 70, broke down as he described how his son’s death shattered their family. He said his “golden years” had been “turned into a nightmare,” and that his wife, once known for her loud laughter, now spends hours each day looking at photos of their son, her face filled with “pain and anguish.”
"Carter pointed a loaded gun at J.M., and he killed him. He also killed me. My life is not the same. My passion and lust for life are gone," said Michael Feeney. “Every morning I wake up, I am overwhelmed with the reality that J.M. is gone, senselessly and violently taken by Carter Layne’s careless, reckless, despicable act.”
Jann Michael’s sister, Yana Feeney, cried as she told the court she is haunted by the future her brother will never have. She said she thinks every day about the milestones Jann Michael should have reached, including celebrating his birthday, graduating, falling in love and starting a family. The loss, she said, has left her life “confusing and so hard to find meaning.”
Yana and her father were among several people who urged Mercurio to impose the maximum possible sentence, saying anything less would dishonor Jann Michael’s memory and fail to hold Layne accountable. Manslaughter with a firearm is a first-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Andrew Gugliemini, Jann Michael’s wrestling coach at Manatee High, echoed those calls. He told the court Layne’s choices had “devastating consequences” and asked the judge to “please impose a stiff sentence.”
“Make a statement to the youth, and believe me, they are watching,” Gugliemini said. “They are talking on social media. They are watching, and this is going to make an impact. Please send a message that this type of action carries harsh consequences.”
He added that Layne’s “freedom should be taken away for a very long time.”
Gugliemini also spoke about Jann Michael’s character, calling him a natural leader with the “it factor” whose presence lifted his teammates. In his 31 years at Manatee High, he said he had never seen the campus so shaken by the loss of a student.
Gathering ends with Manatee High student’s death
The emotional pleas came more than a year after the shooting that stunned Jann Michael’s classmates and friends.
According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, a group of teenagers had gathered at a home in the 5900 block of Eighth Avenue Drive West on March 8, 2024. Deputies said Layne, who was 17 at the time, had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana with the group when he began recklessly handling a small silver revolver.
Witnesses told detectives that Layne repeatedly pointed the gun at others and insisted it was not loaded, according to an arrest report. At one point, detectives said another teen pushed the weapon away and told him not to point it at people. Investigators wrote in their report that Layne again said it was not loaded and pointed it anyway.
Deputies said Layne was also seen opening the cylinder, taking ammunition out, and putting it back in before pointing the revolver at Jann Michael. Detectives said that Layne joked the gun was not loaded, then pulled the trigger and shot Jann Michael in the chest.
A friend ran inside yelling, “Call 911, Carter shot J.M.!” and grabbed a towel to press against the wound while waiting for first responders, according to the report. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but Jann Michael was pronounced dead at the scene. Most of the other teenagers at the gathering ran away after the shooting, investigators said.
Deputies also said they spoke with a witness who was not present during the shooting but reported seeing Layne earlier that day drinking alcohol and playing with the same revolver.
At Wednesday’s hearing, prosecutors also played videos recorded in the weeks before the fatal shooting that appeared to show Layne pointing a gun out the window of a car and handling it recklessly with friends. Prosecutors said the gun was never recovered after the shooting.
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Shooter’s family seeks lighter sentence
While Jann Michael’s friends and relatives pressed for the harshest punishment, Layne’s family pleaded for mercy. They asked the court to weigh his age at the time of the shooting and the progress he has made since, urging Mercurio to consider sentencing him as a youthful offender, which allows for a shorter term. The judge noted the minimum penalty in Layne’s case without youthful offender status was about 10 years.
Nearly 100 people submitted letters to the court asking Mercurio to deny that request, saying youthful offender status would downplay the seriousness of the crime.
Layne’s adoptive father, Michael Layne, told the court his son’s life “went into a tailspin” after learning he was adopted at age 10. He described a troubled teenager who battled depression, low self-esteem and marijuana use.
A psychologist who evaluated Layne testified that he struggled with depression, feelings of worthlessness and immature decision-making as a teen, factors the defense argued contributed to the reckless behavior that led to Jann Michael’s death.
Family members said they had seen a profound change in Layne over the past 18 months. They told the court he graduated from high school, held a steady job, was accepted to college and reconnected with his younger siblings, even helping his brother prepare for a job interview.
“He is a young man who understands the seriousness of what has happened,” his father said. “He carries that weight every single day.”
His mother, Megan Layne, wept as she defended her son.
“My child is not the monster he is being portrayed as,” she said.
Finally, Carter Layne stood and addressed the Feeney family directly. Speaking for the first time during the hearing, he apologized.
“I want to say sorry,” Carter Layne said. “I’m single-handedly responsible for the death of J.M.”
Carter Layne sentenced to 20 years in prison
Before announcing the punishment, Mercurio acknowledged the difficulty of the decision.
“I struggle with what to do with Mr. Layne,” Mercurio said. “I clearly do not think youthful offender status is appropriate. A departure is not an appropriate sentence in this matter.”
Mercurio said he was “overly impressed with the impact that the loss of Mr. Feeney has had not only on his family but on the community,” and noted prosecutors showed Layne had pointed a gun recklessly at others throughout the day of the shooting, ignoring repeated warnings to stop. That, he said, made the case different from other youthful gun tragedies.
Mercurio’s voice caught at one point as he turned to Jann Michael’s youngest sister.
“I think your brother would be very proud of you,” he said.
Moments later, Mercurio imposed the 20-year prison term, with credit for time served, followed by supervised release that includes house arrest, probation, community service, restitution and treatment requirements.
“As harsh as this may seem, when you get out of prison, you will still be a relatively young man,” Mercurio told Layne. “Mr. Feeney is dead in a grave and he ain’t coming back. So, despite the harshness of this sentence, I encourage you to make the most of your time. Take advantage of any programs in the Department of Corrections, do everything you can to keep your sobriety and move forward.”
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM.
