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Bullied boy dies: Running back Ray Rice said he would “continue to fight against bullying” after learning of the death of a 12-year-old Philadelphia boy, who was said to have been bullied.
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images for Jeep)
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, a prominent opponent of bullying, said he would fight even more against the problem after a 12-year-old Philadelphia boy died in a coma after suffering an apparent beating by bullies.
The boy, Bailey O’Neill, died over the weekend after he was taken off life support. He was beaten up several months ago, but his condition worsened and he suffered seizures before he was admitted to the hospital. Doctors placed him in a coma to stave off the seizures.
In a Facebook message on Monday, Rice said he talked with O’Neill’s family.
“After learning last Thursday that doctors said Bailey had no longer had any brain activity, I reached out to the family and was able to spend about 45 minutes on the phone with them. I could hear their sadness, worry, frustration and grief. They would be faced with removing their son, cousin, nephew, and best friend from life support,” his post reads.
Rice has spoke in several Maryland schools and made efforts to raise money for a group aimed at combating bullying.
“I don’t think I will ever be able to understand why kids bully each other and how we are all sitting here after yet another ‘bully death’ getting ready to go through this difficult task of picking up the pieces and the even more difficult task of forgiving so we can heal,” Rice continued.
And he added: “I will NOT give up my fight. Everyday I will continue to fight AGAINST bullying and fight FOR kindness.”
According to ABC, O’Neill was apparently jumped by two other classmates and was hit in the face several times, which broke his nose. He was also knocked down in the incident, causing a concussion, his father said.
“He was sleeping. He was moody. He wasn’t himself. He was angry a little bit. He wasn’t really eating,” his father Rob O’Neill was quoted as saying.
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