MERIWETHER COUNTY, Ga. — The family of a Manchester High School student is trying to learn how to navigate life without their loved one just days before what would have been the teenager's 17th birthday.
What was supposed to be a high school milestone filled with laughter and fun turned to tragedy over the weekend. Daryus Bryant was shot and killed in Columbus on Macon Road on Saturday after he attended his high school's prom.
But despite the violent shooting, Daryus's father, Cartarsman Bryant, wants people to remember his son beyond the tragedy.
"Real humble kid. Real down to earth. People person. Great student-athlete. Well-liked in the community. Just a gamer, homebody," Cartarsman said.
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Daryus played for the Manchester High Blue Devils as the cornerback and quarterback while his father was one of the assistant coaches watching him grow as a player.
He is the second player the team has lost to a deadly shooting after Brandon Smith was killed on the eve of the team's state title game last year.
"They've just been playing together for years, and he's enjoyed it. And he's become a big part of the success of these teams that he played on. So, he grew to love it. He grew to love it," his father added.
Cartarsman said that although his son was an exceptional athlete, he was more than just a football player. His father said Daryus was a high jump state champion in Track & Field last year and was close to defending that title again this year. Daryus also played basketball -- leading his team to the state championship, according to his father.
The last time Cartarsman took a photo with his son was when he sent him off to prom in his red tuxedo earlier that day.
Now, his father has those memories, along with seeing his son's last moments alive through social media videos.
"I've seen some videos of their last moments. Maybe 10 minutes prior to this happening, they were all at a gas station, just having a good time and posting videos and dancing around," he recalled.
Georgia high school student killed a week before his 17th birthday
Daryus and another victim, Clarence Flavors, were found shot in a car that night. Flavors was rushed into surgery while Bryant died at the hospital.
When tragedy struck, his community ran to support his family.
"This kid was actively in the community. You are talking about a kid that, when this happened to him, all the prom kids came to the hospital," his father said. "But not only did the prom kids come, their parents got out of their bed, and they came because that's what he meant to this community. He really was a pillar of this community."
His father remembers when he received the devastating call from his cousin.
"I'm trying to register this in my mind like Daryus is shot. Who would want to shoot Daryus? He's not even that type of kid. And I'm, like, panicking," he said. "We just had to get dressed and jump in the car and just drive to Columbus."
Just 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital, his family learned he had died.
As his birthday approaches, his family, community and friends are still learning to live with the grief and the knowledge that they will never see Daryus blow out candles on his 17th birthday. They will no longer be able to celebrate milestones alongside him or see his smile or laugh. It's a loss that's fresh and hurts every day.
"It's terrible. It's just waking up to a nightmare every day but to miss your son that he was here every day. And you used to see him smile every day and not to have that anymore is getting tougher and tougher by the day," his father said.
Although there are no leads on his death, Cartarsman is hopeful his son will get justice.
Those who might have any information about the deadly Columbus shooting are encouraged to contact Detective Roy Green at 706-225-4261.
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