.jpg "A Love for the Game, A Community Called to Action: 12-Year-Old Bentley Fights for His Life After Tragic Shooting")
A Love for the Game, A Community Called to Action: 12-Year-Old Bentley Fights for His Life After Tragic Shooting
By: Justin Bradley | Sportzwire | April 30, 2025
Olyphant, PA -- What began as a simple movie night with family turned into a nightmare that no parent, no child, and no community should ever have to face.
On Sunday night, Bentley — a 12-year-old boy with a big heart and an even bigger love for basketball — was walking to a nearby store to grab snacks for a family night in. It was something so ordinary. So innocent. But before he could return home, Bentley was shot twice by a 14-year-old in what has been described as a senseless and unprovoked act of violence.
Now, Bentley is in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. With a collapsed lung, multiple bullet wounds, and nerve damage, his road to recovery will be long, painful, and uncertain. He currently has no feeling in his upper body. The fact that one bullet narrowly missed his heart is, tragically, the only good news so far.
Bentley is more than a victim. He’s a kid who dreams about the next time he can pick up a basketball, play with his friends, and chase the game he loves. He represents what youth sports should be about — joy, connection, teamwork, and growth. And right now, he needs a team more than ever.
This tragedy is a stark reminder that violence has no place in our communities. It forces us to reflect not just on what happened, but on what must change. Our children are growing up in a world that too often responds with harm instead of help, isolation instead of understanding, retaliation instead of reconciliation.
If you're hurting, if you're angry, if you're lost — please talk to someone. There is strength in speaking up. There is power in vulnerability. And there is healing in connection. Whether it’s a friend, a parent, a teacher, or even us at Sportzwire — you are not alone. We’re here to listen, to support, and to help guide each other through the tough moments.
Let Bentley’s story be more than a tragedy. Let it be a rallying cry for compassion, for change, and for a deeper commitment to raising our kids in a world where support outshines violence, and where being a teammate extends far beyond the court.
To Bentley, we are pulling for you. Your strength inspires us. Your fight reminds us of what truly matters. And your story has united an entire community that believes in your comeback — both in life, and one day, back on the hardwood.
If you’d like to support Bentley and his family during this difficult time, a GoFundMe has been established to assist with medical expenses and recovery efforts:
