Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Manning was shot and killed at a suspect's home while attempting to serve a warrant. The suspect had threatened to kill another man earlier in the day and was armed with a Winchester rifle. Officer Manning and two other officers went to the man's shack and called out to him to come out. The man stated he was looking for a match to light a lantern. After a few moments the man opened the door and asked Officer Manning for a match. Officer Manning gave the man a match and the man closed the door and lit the light. A few moments later he opened the door again and as Officer Manning stepped inside the man shot him in the chest with the Winchester rifle, killing him instantly. The other officers returned fire but the suspect was able to escape the scene. The man was arrested and charged with Officer Manning's murder. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on May 9, 1890. Officer Manning had served with the agency for 18 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, parents, brothers, and sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-E2A6C616- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Manning gave the Bessemer Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Bessemer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer John Riley Manning is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Bessemer Police Dept., 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Riley Manning's cause is highlighted.
How John Riley Manning Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1890
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Riley Manning is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Riley Manning was killed by rifle; winchester.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Bessemer Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
