High school secretary and husband killed in Black Friday incident as a result of a ‘domestic disturbance’

A tragic incident involving a high school secretary and her husband unfolded as they were shot dead in a murder-suicide, stemming from a ‘domestic disturbance’ that also left their 21-year-old daughter severely wounded.

Brandy Manville, 46, who worked at Portage High School, and her husband, Charles, 45, were discovered with gunshot wounds by deputies from the Portage Police Department on November 29.

Police Chief Mike Candiano later confirmed the dire situation, revealing that the couple’s daughter, Hayleigh, had been struck three times and was rushed to a hospital for treatment of what was deemed as life-threatening injuries, as reported by The Chicago Tribune.

At around 7.41pm, officers responded to 911 call made about a ‘domestic disturbance’ from a house in the 6300 block of Monument Avenue. 

The caller told dispatchers that her father was armed, intoxicated and throwing items inside the house.

At that moment, 911 operators heard Charles yell in the background, ‘everyone’s going to die,’ followed by gunfire. 

When the first responding deputies approached the property, they also heard several gunshots from inside the residence. 

‘A team of officers from several responding police agencies forced entry to the home, where they discovered Charles Manville, 45 years old, deceased inside the residence with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

‘A second victim, Brandy Manville, 46 years old, was found deceased inside the residence with apparent gunshot wound injuries. 

‘A third victim, a 21-year-old female, was found alive inside the residence with apparent gunshot wound injuries,’ the Department wrote in Facebook post. 

The survivor was first transported by the Portage Fire Department medical personnel to a nearby hospital and then taken to a trauma center by a Lutheran Air medical helicopter.

A day later, Mayor Austin Bonta clarified that the Hayleigh was ‘alive and stable’ and busted reports about her false death. 

‘The third victim of last night’s domestic shooting is alive and stable. I’m not able able say much more at this time, but the police will have another update later today. Sharing this because there were some incorrect claims made by some people online last night that she had died. 

‘If you pray, please continue to pray for her and for the family, friends, and neighbors impacted,’ he said in his Facebook post. 

Officials further confirmed that there were no other people inside the house and none of the officers discharged their weapons. 

The Department also reassured community members that the shooting was an ‘isolated incident’ and there is no mass safety threat. 

In a statement to the Portage High School community released on November 20, Portage Township Schools described Brandy as someone who ‘always gave a welcoming smile to all visitors to the main office, offering many of our students a listening ear and words of encouragement each day.

‘Our school community is deeply saddened and impacted by this tragedy as Mrs. Manville touched the lives of so many of our students and staff. Our hearts are with her family and everyone grieving this loss’, according to The Chicago Tribune. 

High School Principal Michael Stills also spoke fondly about Brandy and told WGNTV: ‘I have 2,200 kids. Almost everyone of them know who Mrs. Manville is, so as you might understand, it’s going to be whatever the kids need as much. As we preach education, it will be secondary this week.’

A GoFundMe has since been launched by Brandy’s best friend Olivia Chelich for both Hayleigh and her brother Ethan. 

‘There is so much I could say about Brandy. She was the absolute best mother in the world to her children. There was nothing in this world that meant more to her than Ethan and Hayleigh. Being a mother was her favorite job, and she was the best person for it. Her children always felt her love and knew they had her in their corner.

‘Brandy was also the PHS secretary for over the last decade. She knew that school like the back of her hand. The children that passed in those hallways knew she was an advocate for them and none of them walked away from her hungry or without a smile on their face. 

‘Brandy was the perfect person for her job and always had the office laughing with her no-nonsense attitude and infectious laugh. 

‘She would never want to be described as the person who lit up a room, but rather the person who would be in the corner ready for a well-timed and hilariously inappropriate one-liner.

‘Unfortunately, Brandy was taken from us way too soon in a senseless act of domestic violence that none of us will ever be able to comprehend or recover from. Our hearts are broken, and we will forever have a hole in our hearts. 

‘Now her daughter has the fight of her life ahead of her. Hayleigh was also involved and struck three times and is currently in the ICU in critical but stable condition. 

‘We are hopeful that Hayleigh will make a solid recovery but has a very long road ahead of her. We know everyone is concerned about her and wants to know how she is, but please respect her privacy,’ the description read in part. 

As of now, the crowdfunding page has raised $26,713 out of its $75,000 goal. 

A moment of silence was also held at Portage High School on November 30 in remembrance of Brandy.