Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., a 13-year-old boy from California, tragically passed away after allegedly attempting a dangerous social media challenge. His parents believe the challenge, similar to the “Blackout Challenge” that’s been linked to past deaths, may have played a role in his death.
Ohaeri Jr. was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Murrieta on February 3rd. The night before, he had spent time with his parents watching the Grammy Awards. His mother tried to perform CPR while his father called for help, but sadly, he couldn’t be revived.
At first, his parents thought he may have taken his own life. But after looking into things further, they now suspect he was influenced by a social media challenge. This challenge, which encourages people to make themselves unconscious, is similar to the dangerous “Blackout Challenge” that has already claimed lives.
Although Ohaeri Jr. had strict parental controls on his phone and no social media accounts, his parents believe he might’ve learned about the challenge from classmates. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the cause of death.
Now, his parents are urging other families to be extra vigilant about what their kids are exposed to online and among their peers. Ohaeri Sr. shared his own feelings of guilt, wishing he’d talked to his sons about the dangers of these online challenges sooner.
“I’m going through the Rolodex of guilt now like, ‘Did we check in more? Should I have not been as firm four years ago?’” Ohaeri Sr. said.
Ohaeri Jr. was described as a lively, talented teen who loved music, sports, and football. His father, still grieving, hopes his son’s story will help raise awareness about the risks posed by dangerous social media trends.
A GoFundMe campaign set up in his honor has already raised over $75,000 to support the family during this heartbreaking time.
