Bullied Delco Boy Dies After Two Months in Coma
Bailey O’Neill died Sunday, a family member who did not want to be named, confirmed to ABCNews.com. Bailey turned 12 on Saturday. He was taken off life support Sunday morning.
In January, Bailey was involved in a fight at Darby Township School in Upper Darby, Pa., west of Philadelphia, Jan. 10. The boy was allegedly jumped by two classmates, one of whom hit him in the face several times fracturing his nose, his father Rob O’Neill told ABC affiliate WPVI.
The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office says it has opened an active criminal investigation, according to WPVI. Southeast Delco School District officials have said the district is cooperating with the investigation. The school’s principal didn’t return a call to ABC News.
Baltimore Raven Ray Rice’s Facebook page:
A few weeks ago i shared a link to an article that a fan sent to me. It was about an 11 year old boy named Bailey who had been bullied at school. In the latest incident, Bailey was beat up on the school playground. Hit in the face and pushed to the ground, Bailey began to have severe seizures which required him to be placed into a medically induced coma.
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.
Bailey passed away this morning, one day after his 12th birthday.
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.
I don’t know if we will ever get to a point where bullying is actually considered a CRIME, rather than “kids being kids” or a “playground incident.”
I don’t know if the kid that did this to Bailey will be punished severely enough or if he will receive the help I know he truly needs. Bullying doesn’t happen for no reason…we have to figure out what the underlying cause it and treat it like the illness it is.
I don’t know when parents, teachers, elected officials and administrators will sit up and take notice…and ACT.
But, I DO KNOW THIS: I will NOT give up my fight. Everyday I will continue to fight AGAINST bullying and fight FOR kindness.
Bailey – my little buddy, I will not let you become just another bully statistic…you are my inspiration and one more angel that will help me continue the fight for kids everywhere. You are going to help me save lives. RIP my little friend.
“Late yesterday, we were informed about the death of Bailey O’Neill,” Stephen Butz, superintendent of the Southeast Delco School District wrote in a statement this morning.
“Our school community is deeply saddened by this loss. Our condolences are with Bailey’s family and friends during this very difficult time.”
O’Neill was remembered extensively on Facebook, where a page was created in his honor after the incident became widely publicized.
“First of all, I want to say the battle isn’t over. … We will remember Bailey always and we will continue this fight until Bullying is eradicated,” said a post on the Prayers for Bailey O’Neill Facebook page, not run by the family.
