Family Links 13-Year-Old Son Nnamdi’s Death To Viral Tiktok Challenge

Mourning Parents Suspect Social Media Challenge Contributed to Teen Son’s Tragic Death

A heartbreaking tragedy has struck a family in Murrieta, Southern California, as parents mourn their 13-year-old son, Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., who they believe may have lost his life due to a perilous social media challenge reminiscent of past trends that have claimed young lives.

Ohaeri Jr. was found unresponsive in his bedroom on the morning of February 3, following a family day spent watching the Grammy Awards. Efforts to revive him were made by his mother, who performed CPR, while his father, Nnamdi Ohaeri Sr., called for emergency assistance.

Initially, it appeared that Ohaeri Jr.’s death might be a suicide, but his parents had reservations and began their own investigation. They soon discovered that their son had encountered a dangerous social media challenge that encourages participants to induce unconsciousness, similar to the notorious “Blackout Challenge” that has been linked to multiple fatalities in the past.

Despite having strict parental controls on his phone and no social media accounts, Ohaeri Jr.’s parents suspect he learned about the harmful trend from friends at school. The authorities have yet to officially classify the teen’s death as a suicide, and it remains unclear if police are currently investigating the situation, with the Murrieta Police Department not responding to inquiries at the time of reporting.

In light of this tragedy, the Ohaeri family hopes to raise awareness among other parents regarding the potential dangers that their children may encounter through peer interactions and social media. Ohaeri Sr. expressed his concerns, admitting that while he has been vigilant about various influences, he realized discussions about social media trends and challenges were lacking. “Maybe we need to talk more about not following social media trends,” he reflected.

The loss is weighing heavily on Ohaeri Sr., who is grappling with feelings of guilt and wondering if he could have done more to protect his son. He described Ohaeri Jr. as a passionate individual who loved music, sports, and had a remarkable sense of humor.

To assist the grieving family, a GoFundMe campaign has been established in memory of the young teen, raising over $74,000 thus far. The fundraiser highlights Ohaeri Jr. as a vibrant and kind-hearted young man, an athlete, musician, and devoted family member.

In a post following Ohaeri Jr.’s funeral on February 14, his father wrote, “It has been 15 days since Deuce passed away, and this feeling still does not seem real. We never would have thought one of our children would be the face of a GoFundMe campaign and yet here we are.”

Navigating their grief has been an immense challenge for the family, filled with feelings of shock and hopelessness as they attempt to understand the circumstances of their loss. Ohaeri Sr. shared that while their other three sons are managing as best as they can, the family is collectively trying to cope with the profound pain of losing a beloved child.