Demetrius Lightfoot Jr. was 17 and a senior at Manatee High School when he was found dead outside a residence in the 700 block of 12th Avenue West in Bradenton on Monday, May 18, 2026. Police received a 911 call at about 10:15 p.m.; detectives immediately treated the death as a homicide. The discovery came days before his scheduled graduation and had a strong impact on students and staff at Manatee High School.

Investigators described the incident as isolated and quickly identified a person of interest. On Tuesday, May 20, 2026, 16-year-old Santana Davis was arrested and charged with manslaughter with a firearm. The Bradenton Police Department continues to investigate and has asked anyone with information to come forward. Crisis counselors were made available through the School District of Manatee County to support the community.

Are there details about the night of May 18 or about witnesses that could help clarify what happened?