Police video showed Nex Benedict saying three students “jumped” him after he threw water on them because they were bullying him and his friend. The next day, Nex was dead.
Feb. 25, 2024, 8:54 PM PST / Updated Feb. 26, 2024, 6:04 AM PSTBy Jo Yurcaba
OWASSO, Okla. — Ally, a senior at Owasso High School, said the last thing Nex Benedict said to them was “happy birthday.”
Nex was involved in a fight at the school on Feb. 7, Ally’s birthday, and died the next day. Nex’s mother, Sue Benedict, told The Independent that Nex, 16, was bullied because of his gender identity. As a result, his death has become a rallying cry for LGBTQ activists as Oklahoma and states across the country consider dozens of bills that target the community.
Ally, who uses they/them pronouns and asked to go by only their first name to protect their privacy, said in an interview that they were close friends with Nex.
