Nigerian-American Parents Mourn 13-Year-Old Son Who Died After Alleged Social Media Challenge

Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr.

A Southern California family is devastated after the tragic loss of their 13-year-old son, Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr., who they believe died after attempting a dangerous social media challenge. Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr.’s parents believe he died after participating in a game similar to the deadly “Blackout Challenge”

The teen was found unresponsive in his bedroom in Murrieta on the morning of Monday, Feb. 3, just hours after watching the Grammy Awards with his family. Despite his mother's desperate attempts to perform CPR and his father’s call for emergency help, Ohaeri Jr. was pronounced dead.

Initially, his death appeared to be a suicide, but his parents began their own investigation, leading them to suspect he had participated in a viral challenge similar to the deadly "Blackout Challenge." This trend, which has been linked to multiple child deaths in recent years, involves restricting oxygen to induce temporary unconsciousness.

Although the teen had strict parental controls on his phone and no social media accounts, his parents suspect he learned about the challenge from classmates. The Murrieta Police Department has not yet confirmed whether an official investigation is underway.

His grieving father, Nnamdi Ohaeri Sr., now urges parents to discuss the dangers of viral trends with their children. “We’ve always been mindful of influences, but maybe we need to talk more about not following social media challenges,” he told KTLA.

Ohaeri Jr. was a passionate athlete and music lover with a sharp sense of humor, his family said. As they mourn, his parents hope their son’s story will serve as a warning for others about the hidden dangers children may face, even without direct social media access.