A tragic incident unfolded at a middle school in Yonkers on Wednesday morning, as a student lost his life after choking, potentially due to a social media challenge, officials and reports suggest.
The student, a sixth-grader at Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School, experienced a medical emergency and became unresponsive at approximately 11:40 a.m., according to information from Yonkers school authorities.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and attempted to save the 12-year-old’s life. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, he was declared dead upon arrival at St. Joseph’s Hospital, school representatives confirmed.
“As the police conduct their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this medical emergency, our priority remains supporting his grieving classmates, teachers, and staff,” stated Anibal Soler Jr., Superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools, in a formal statement.
Law enforcement is exploring the possibility that the incident may be linked to the “One Bite” challenge circulating on TikTok, as reported by News 12.
Authorities have suggested that the boy may have been consuming a donut at the time of the incident, according to the news outlet.
A message to Yonkers police was not immediately returned.
“Today’s tragic loss is heartbreaking,” Mayor Mike Spano said in a statement.
“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.”
