A shocking case of alleged bullying and endangerment has surfaced at Lake Travis High School in Texas, where a group of teenage football players is being accused of deliberately placing peanuts inside a teammate’s locker, despite full awareness of his life-threatening allergy.
Carter Mannon, a dedicated athlete and member of the school’s Varsity football team, has suffered from a severe peanut allergy since infancy. Diagnosed at just nine months old, his family has taken every precaution to ensure his safety. Through careful management and constant vigilance, he has been able to participate in normal activities, including playing competitive football. However, his worst fear materialized when teammates, reportedly aware of his allergy, targeted him in what has been described as a cruel and potentially deadly prank.
A Life-Threatening Allergy
Carter’s mother, Shawna Mannon, recalls the moment she and her husband first discovered his peanut allergy. “We had him sitting on the counter, and my husband was making a peanut butter sandwich right next to him. Carter reached into the jar and smeared some peanut butter on himself,” she explains. “Almost immediately, he broke out in hives, and we could see the perfect handprint where the peanut butter had touched him.”
Since that day, the family has been acutely aware of the dangers even minimal exposure to peanuts could pose to Carter. His allergy is so severe that mere contact with the allergen can trigger a rapid, intense reaction, potentially leading to anaphylactic shock. This condition, as defined by medical professionals, is a critical and potentially fatal allergic reaction that results in symptoms such as sudden drops in blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and a weak, rapid pulse. It requires immediate administration of epinephrine to prevent severe complications or death.
A Previous Incident
Despite being cautious, Carter had already faced a terrifying episode before this incident. A simple mix-up led him to consume a cookie that had come into contact with peanuts. Within minutes, his body reacted violently, requiring two emergency doses of his EpiPen and an urgent trip to the hospital. This experience served as a harrowing reminder of just how fragile his safety was and how even the smallest oversight could have life-altering consequences.
An Alleged Dangerous Prank
According to Shawna Mannon, the alleged perpetrators of this recent incident were not ignorant of Carter’s allergy. On the contrary, they were well-informed and seemingly curious about the severity of his condition. “They were joking around about it, asking if it could really kill him,” Shawna explains. “He told them, ‘Yes, absolutely. If it gets in my nose, eyes, or mouth, I could go into anaphylactic shock.’”
The very next day, before a crucial game, Carter was met with a horrifying sight—his locker had been deliberately filled with peanuts. The nuts were scattered across his belongings, including his jersey and cleats. A can of peanuts had been emptied into his locker, ensuring they would come into contact with his gear. Upon touching his contaminated belongings, Carter immediately began developing hives on his arm, signaling the onset of an allergic reaction.
The School’s Response
The incident was swiftly reported to school authorities, and disciplinary measures were taken against the students responsible. However, the punishment was surprisingly lenient—those involved were benched for just two days, required to switch locker rooms, and had to complete additional runs during practice. Despite the severity of their actions, these relatively minor consequences left the Mannon family feeling that the gravity of the situation was not being taken seriously.
Ongoing Harassment and Retaliation
If Carter had hoped the ordeal would end there, he was sadly mistaken. Shawna claims that in the aftermath of the incident, her son faced continued harassment from some of his peers. “They would flick him from behind as he walked down the hall. There was a lot of verbal retaliation,” she reveals. “At one point, someone even put a peanut butter granola bar in his backpack.”
Despite Carter’s mother taking her concerns to the school board, the situation did not meet the legal definition of bullying under Texas law. The Lake Travis Independent School District issued a statement, explaining: “Under the Texas Education Code, bullying is a very specific behavior and is defined as an act or pattern of acts that physically harms a student or materially and substantially disrupts the educational process. Upon concluding our investigation, it was determined that the legal elements of bullying were not met.”
This ruling left the Mannon family with a difficult decision. With the continued mistreatment and the fear of future threats to his safety, Carter ultimately decided to transfer to a different school, one where he and his family felt he would be safer. Shawna expressed disappointment in how the case was handled, stating that her son had no choice but to leave a school where he had once felt comfortable and welcomed.
A Growing Conversation About Allergy Safety
This deeply troubling incident has ignited broader discussions about the importance of allergy awareness and the responsibilities of schools in protecting students with medical conditions. Allergies are not minor inconveniences for those who suffer from them—they are life-threatening conditions that require strict precautions. The fact that Carter’s allergy was common knowledge among his teammates, yet they still allegedly acted in a way that put his life at risk, highlights the critical need for more education, stricter policies, and harsher penalties for such reckless behavior.
Parents, educators, and advocacy groups are now calling for better training on allergy safety in schools and sports teams. Understanding the dangers of severe allergies should be just as much a priority as teaching students about the consequences of bullying and harassment. The Mannon family hopes that by sharing their story, they can prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
For Carter, the road to finding a safe and supportive environment continues. But for now, his priority remains focusing on his well-being and ensuring that no other child has to endure the same frightening experience he did.