'Simply No Words': Manhattan Community Mourns Boy, 16, Killed In Fall At Abandoned Building

MANHATTAN, IL — Less than a year after the deaths of two junior high students, the Manhattan community is mourning the unexpected death of a 16-year-old high schooler.

Tony Reed Jr., 16, died Aug. 30. He was a sophomore at Lincoln-Way West and a graduate of Manhattan District 114 schools.

Reed died after falling 100 feet at an abandoned building just before 1 a.m. Aug. 30, Joliet police said in a release.

Officers at the scene found four juvenile boys who had been with Reed at the time of the incident, police said. Local authorities confirmed it was Reed who fell.

Police learned that the group had entered the abandoned rock quarry building to explore the property and had made their way to an upper portion of the structure. According to police, preliminary information indicates that Reed fell through an opening in the structure, plummeting approximately 100 feet.

The four boys were taken to the Joliet Police Department, where they were interviewed and later released to their parents, police told Patch.

Reed was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. A cause and manner of death will be determined by the Will County Coroner’s Office.

"We are heartbroken after the tragic and unexpected loss of Anthony Reed, Jr., on August 30," family wrote in an online fundraiser. "His life was taken far too soon, and Courtney, Tony, and Elayna are experiencing unimaginable loss. We are asking for support to help cover the funeral and memorial expenses as we lay him to rest and honor his life. This was a sudden event, and any help would mean a lot to us right now."

Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen called the loss—another among several that have impacted the town within the last year—devastating for the town.

"Our community is once again facing the heartbreaking loss of a child, and there are simply no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel," Adrieansen said. "My heart goes out to the Reed family and everyone who knew and loved their child.

"In times like this, Manhattan must come together as a community, supporting one another, lifting the family up in prayer, and reminding them that they are not alone. We grieve with them, and we will stand with them."

Words of comfort and support have spread across social media following Reed's death.

"Manhattan, our community has suffered the tragic loss of another child," the Manhattan Police Department said on social media. "We ask that everyone keep the Reed family in your thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time. As a community, let’s come together, support one another, and support the Reed family with love, compassion and strength."

Manhattan District 114 Superintendent Damien Aherne said the district is offering support services.

"Our school community is deeply saddened by this loss, and our thoughts are with the Reed family during this very difficult time," Aherne said in a statement. "Our school counselors, social workers, and psychologists continue to be available to provide support for any student or staff member as needed."

"Tony was one of the kindest young men we’ve ever known," one resident wrote. "We’ve gotten to know his family and they are wonderful people."

"Being that I have lived in Manhattan my entire life, I’ve had the opportunity to cross paths with a lot of people in our town," shared Matt M., of local weather forecasting site WTW Manhattan. "Tony was one of them. Tony was such a funny kid with a great personality, and he was genuinely hard to dislike. For years, my friends and I would run into him all around town, and I truly don’t have one bad thing to say about him."

Officials at Lincoln-Way District 210 confirmed the student's death and said that counselors are supporting staff and students as needed Monday and throughout the week.

Local nonprofit HHH Ranch said it will offer its farm as a place for the community to come together to support the family and each other.

"Our community is grieving another young life lost far too soon this past weekend," the organization said on social media. "There are simply no words for a loss like this, and our hearts are with the Reed family, their friends, classmates, and everyone whose life has been touched by this tragedy."

The farm will host an "open ranch" event for the community from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 5. It is free to attend.

"Come as you are," they wrote. "Bring a picnic, sit quietly by the animals, walk around the Ranch, or simply spend some time together. There is no expectation and nothing you need to do while you're here. We just want to offer a peaceful space for our community to gather, grieve, reflect, and be surrounded by a little comfort.

"Our hearts are with this family and our entire community as we navigate another unimaginable loss together."

Reed's death is the latest to impact the community, which has been dealt several tragedies over the last year.

In October 2025, 13-year-old Chance Hunnicutt was fatally struck by a semi while riding his bike in downtown Manhattan. Hunnicutt died just days after 11-year-old Danny Bayles, who suffered a suffered a pulmonary embolism following an asthma attack, family told Patch. Both were students at Manhattan District 114's Manhattan Jr. High.

In December, a head-on crash in nearby Elwood claimed the lives of Elwood man Joshua Villalobos, 35, and Diane Hopkins, 64, of Ohio. Two others were injured. Initial investigation indicates Villalobos was driving westbound on Manhattan Road, just west of Cherry Hill Road, when his vehicle entered oncoming traffic in the eastbound lane, striking the second vehicle head-on.

Just more than a week later, 32-year-old Manhattan woman Victoria Stanek died in a single-vehicle rollover crash at Route 45 and Steger Road near Frankfort.

In January 2026, 24-year-old Manhattan woman Makenna M. Maurisak was killed in a head-on crash involving a school bus.

Obituary and visitation information for Reed was not available as of Monday afternoon.