Sixteen-year-old Samuel Reynolds stepped in and broke up a fight when he saw a bully beating up a smaller boy. A few days later, he was murdered by the bully for doing what was right.
"Our victim had broke up a fight a few days prior between what he described as a smaller boy, who was kind of being picked on. After he broke up the fight, he started having some trouble with the suspect," Christopher Cook with the Arlington Police Department said.
The suspect confronted Reynolds at the Pinewoods Apartments in Arlington, Texas where both lived. Security cameras caught the suspect pulling out a .40 caliber gun and shooting Reynolds, who later died at the hospital.
"He pulls out a handgun from the rear part of his pants he was wearing, points it at the victim and fires one round," Cook told reporters Friday, according to The Washington Post.
The suspect's identity is being protected by authorities, but it's believed he's between the ages of 13 and 15. The teen was arrested soon after the shooting and charged with murder. He is now at a local juvenile correction facility.
NEW: @ArlingtonPD say family of 16yo Sam Reynolds report he'd broken up a fight days ago & believe that was reason another teenager shot & killed him yesterday.
Can't begin to wrap my head around this one..... #WFAA pic.twitter.com/ShO9tkB2FX
— Lauren Zakalik (@wfaalauren) February 7, 2020
"It's just so senseless. It's so tragic. It could've been avoided," Cook said.
Reynolds loved playing soccer and was known for "his charming personality and wonderful sense of humor," his obituary reads.
"Sam was one of the most compassionate and helpful people you could ever meet," the obituary continues. "He was always there to help, whether someone needed a shoulder to cry on or a joke to laugh at. His charming personality and wonderful sense of humor are going to be missed by so many people."
A friend of the family says he's the type of person that would stand up to a bully.
"He cared about people and he did what he thought was right," Shay Tyes, a family friend, said according to The Washington Post.
"I think this just encourages us to go out and to be like Sam and to follow the example that Sam has set for us," Russell Laniyan, a friend of Reynolds, said.
Reynolds's mother, Madison Fletcher, spoke at a candlelight vigil for her son at his high school.
The Arlington police are making it a priority to prosecute those who allowed the teen to have access to a firearm.
"We are sick and tired of children in our community coming into contact with firearms and possessing them and using them in this type of manner," Cook said. "If an adult has provided this firearm, you certainly can bet that we're going to pursue them vigorously."
Reynolds should never be forgotten for doing what was right. We never truly know what the consequences are for standing up against bullying and violence. But Reynolds did so out of nothing more than compassion for the vulnerable.
A GoFundMe has been established to help Reynolds's mother through the tragedy.
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.