Pennsylvania Man Slams Toddler To Death With Wrestling Move, WWE Responds


A Pennsylvania man killed a toddler Wednesday when he slammed his head into the ground while trying to mimic a wrestling move.

Brandon Hoffman, 20, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and aggravated assault — among other charges — for killing 18-month-old Bryson Shoemaker.

While babysitting his girlfriend’s toddler, Hoffman began playing with the child by performing fake wrestling moves that involved throwing Bryson onto the bed.

He first slammed the child onto the bed using The Rock Bottom move made famous the World Wrestling Entertainment star, the Rock.

Then, Hoffman was trying to perform the Undertaker’s “The Last Ride” and meant for the child to hit the nearby bed, but he missed and slammed Bryson’s head onto the hardwood floor instead, according to NBC News.

The move is designed for a wrestler to get his opponent onto his shoulders in a reverse piggyback before throwing him onto the ground.

It was made famous by WWE star the Undertaker, who last appeared on WrestleMania 31, according to the Inquisitr.

It was never designed for children.

Lonnie Stewart told Sky News that Hoffman came to him after slamming the toddler and was very agitated.

He came to me like, “I don’t know what happened. I dropped him.”

After slamming the toddler’s head to the ground, Hoffman tried to perform CPR and then drove the toddler to the hospital himself instead of calling 911 because he didn’t want to get in trouble.

Then Bryson was moved to a different hospital, where he died. Hospital staff diagnosed the toddler with a collapsed lung and broken neck.

Hoffman originally told police officers Bryson was injured after he threw the toddler into the air and failed to catch him.

His sister, Angelina Hoffman, told Sky News she didn’t think he meant to slam the toddler on purpose.

A GoFundMe account has been set up online to collect donations for the toddler’s funeral.

So far, 45 people have donated $2,700.

Hoffman’s bail has been set at $150,000, and he’s scheduled back in court May 13.

Meanwhile, the WWE has issued a statement condemning Hoffman’s slamming of the toddler and distancing themselves from the event.

“There is no excuse for a 20-year-old grown man to assault an 18-month-old child, no matter what. Using a flimsy excuse about emulating a wrestling maneuver does not absolve Brandon Hoffman of this abhorrent crime. The death of Bryson Shoemaker is a tragedy, and WWE offers its condolences to the child’s mother, Sierra Shoemaker.”

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