Friend of 19-year-old Lincoln shooting victim Brianna Chol speaks out

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – It’s been several years since Alexis Aldrich met Nyandeng Chol while working at a Lincoln fast-food restaurant.

She says they both had big dreams of becoming a nurse.

Chol, who went by the name Brianna or Bri, just started college a few months ago before her life was tragically cut short after a shooting on Tuesday.

“The last time we talked, she had actually told me about how she got a job at a new nursing home and I was so excited for her,” said Aldrich, adding that Chol deserved to have a future.

“If you had any kind of problem, Bri was always there. If you needed to talk, Bri was there and if you ever needed a shoulder to cry on, Bri was there,” she said.

“She was always the light in the room. If Bri walked in, the whole room was lit.”

Aldrich says she heard about Chol’s sudden death on the news and was shocked by the way she died.

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Lincoln police say the night of the shooting, 37-year-old Tyler Benzel, left his house and walked over to Brianna and a group of people who were arguing with his wife near N48th street and Madison Avenue.

After making verbal threats towards the group, Benzel raised his gun and fired, striking Chol who later died at the hospital from her injuries.

“I know that Bri didn’t start it. She was so sweet and I’ve witnessed so many situations where people were rude to her, and she was just able to blow it off. And in some situations, she would even just walk away,” said Aldrich.

Benzel was arrested for first degree murder, and his arraignment is scheduled for Friday.

Aldrich told Channel 8 what she would say to Benzel if she had the chance.

“You could have handled your anger so much better and the fact that I’m talking to the world instead of Bri right now is very extremely disappointing,” she said.

The investigation into the shooting is still ongoing.

Chol’s sister has started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs.