Nathan Bentley was an ambitious and beloved 18-year-old man who was just beginning to build his future. A recent high school graduate, Nathan was a freshman at Miami Dade College, where he was studying to become a sound engineer to pursue his passion for music. His family described him as a bright light, someone who brought joy into every room and was determined to succeed. To his mother, Nohely Bogert, Nathan was her firstborn son, her best friend, and the head of their household—an example for his younger brothers and sisters who looked up to him. His grandmother, Curl Bentley-Gonzalez, called him her world and one of the family’s bright stars. Friends remembered the young man as an amazing person with a kind soul who was always happy.
On the evening of Friday, October 30, 2026, Nathan attended a high school football game with friends. His grandmother had spoken to him just hours before, cautioning him to be careful.
Later that night, around 11 p.m., he stopped to get something to eat at a McDonald's near the intersection of Northwest 27th Avenue and 108th Street in Northwest Miami-Dade. After getting his food, Nathan saw some friends across the street and went over to say hello. It was then, his family said, that a group of individuals began following him.
The situation quickly escalated into an attempted armed robbery. The suspects surrounded Nathan, pulled out a gun, and demanded he give them his belongings. According to witnesses, a friend urged Nathan to flee. He tried to run, but he fell to the ground. One of the assailants then shot him multiple times before the group fled the scene. Nearby surveillance footage captured the sound of four gunshots, which sent a crowd of people scrambling just seconds before deputies arrived.
When officers from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office reached the scene, they found Nathan with several gunshot wounds. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel treated him and transported him in critical condition to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Nathan Bentley succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Homicide Bureau is leading the investigation into Nathan's murder. Detectives believe there were numerous witnesses present at the time of the shooting, as a large crowd had gathered in the area. They have urged anyone with information to come forward. In the days following the shooting, no arrests had been made, and no suspects had been publicly identified.
The loss has left Nathan’s family and community devastated. "They took my baby," his grandmother told reporters. "You have really wounded this family; you have taken one of our bright stars from us." His mother expressed her profound grief, saying, "I don’t know what I’m going to do without him. His brothers is broken." On Sunday, November 1, 2026, family and friends gathered at the site of the shooting for a candlelight vigil. They created a memorial with balloons, teddy bears, and signs to honor the young man they had lost so senselessly. A GoFundMe campaign was organized to help his mother with funeral expenses and to support her and her other children.
As of early November 2026, the case remains unsolved. Nathan’s family continues to plead for justice and for those responsible to be held accountable. "As a mother, as a father, put yourself in my shoes," Nohely Bogert said in a public appeal. "If anybody knows anything, please. Any information helps. Please come forward." A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
