A 12-year-old boy died after choking at a middle school in Yonkers, New York, on Wednesday morning, June 10. Authorities suspect his death may be linked to a dangerous social media trend.
Incident Details
The sixth-grade student suffered a medical emergency and became unresponsive inside Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School around 11:40 a.m., according to Yonkers school officials. First responders attempted to revive the boy but he was pronounced dead after being transported to St. Joseph's Hospital.
Yonkers Public Schools Superintendent Anibal Soler Jr. expressed condolences, stating, "As police investigate the nature of the medical emergency, we remain focused on caring for his classmates, teachers and staff who are in terrible pain."
Investigation into TikTok Challenge
Police are investigating whether the "One Bite" TikTok challenge was involved, according to News 12. The challenge involves attempting to eat as much food as possible in a single bite. Reports indicate the student may have been eating a donut when he choked.
Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza said at a news conference, "Anything about a TikTok challenge, anything about witness statements, the events leading up to this we're going to investigate and we're going to continue with the investigation from beginning to end."
School and Community Response
Superintendent Soler noted that the incident occurred on the fourth-floor hallway, not in the cafeteria. Staff immediately rushed to help dislodge the food stuck in his throat. He described the student as "a bright light in the building," adding, "Everybody loved him, everybody knew him. He was energy, he was joy."
Mayor Mike Spano released a statement saying, "Today's tragic loss is heartbreaking. The death of a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and our entire Yonkers community is grieving alongside this student's family, classmates, teachers, and loved ones."
The student's name has not been released. The investigation is ongoing.
