Michael Duane Hilton Jr., 21, was found dead in the backyard of a residence in Avon Park, Florida, on September 15, 2023. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots around 1 a.m.; the body was discovered the next morning. An investigation by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office linked 25-year-old Trevor Jaume Reggie Manning to the shooting after evidence at the scene tied him to the firearm.

Manning, described in the report as a convicted felon, was arrested on September 25 for possession of a firearm and was charged with second-degree murder while in custody. Michael, born August 18, 2002, in Vincennes, Indiana, was raised in Avon Park, attended the Highlands County schools and briefly studied at South Florida State College. Family and friends remembered him as respectful, full of life, and always willing to help; he had been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Kiera Venning, since middle school.

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances. If anyone saw or heard anything in Avon Park around 1 a.m. on September 15, please share information with investigators.