Toddler Slammed To Death By Man Mimicking Wrestling Move

Brandon Hoffman, 20, was charged with involuntary manslaughter after using a wrestling move on a baby boy that allegedly caused his death.

An 18-month-old child died while playfully wrestling with his mother's boyfriend in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania.

Brandon Hoffman, 20, was charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter after he used a professional wrestling move called "The Last Ride," a spokesperson for the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Department said.

Generally in the move, a person is thrown over someone's shoulder slammed to the ground. But instead of slamming the boy on the bed, police say he missed and allegedly dropped him on the hardwood floor.

Hoffman was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault. He's being held on $150,000 bail.

Police said Hoffman administered CPR and took the boy, Bryson Shoemaker, to the hospital himself instead of calling 911.

Shoemaker suffered a bruised spinal cord and a collapsed lung, according to police. The boy's mother was at work and Hoffman, her boyfriend, was babysitting.

In a statement, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., said that "blaming a wrestling maneuver is a flimsy excuse for reckless behavior."

"There is no excuse for a 20-year-old grown man to behave in this manner with an 18-month-old child. The death of Bryson Shoemaker is a tragedy, and WWE offers its condolences to the child's mother, Sierra Shoemaker," WWE said.

Screenshot courtesy of WNEP

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