The life of an 18-year-old American teenager ended tragically recently while he was participating in a prank on the street to share for a challenge on the TikTok platform using a water gun. According to British news network "Sky News," New York police confirmed that a security officer shot the boy, Raymond Chaluysen, last Thursday, leading to his death on the same day from a direct facial injury, after the officer believed he was under attack.
The American teenager was participating in a TikTok challenge known as "The Orbeez," which involves a person carrying a water gun, essentially a non-real gun, filled with water, gel balls, or a similar substance, and aiming it at others on the street as a form of prank.
When paramedics arrived at the injured boy's location in the Bronx, he was in critical condition, unconscious, and unresponsive, and he quickly succumbed to his injuries. The man who fired the shots has been charged with murder and another charge of "criminal possession" of the weapon, as he discharged his firearm while off duty.
Videos showed people pulling water guns out of car windows and aiming them at passersby to film a "frightening prank," while TikTok issued a warning that the challenge may not align with its content and conduct policies. However, this prank, described as "heavy," has drawn widespread criticism for potentially terrifying others until they realize it doesn't involve a real weapon, especially in the United States where gun violence is a significant concern amid ongoing shooting incidents. The water guns used in the challenge closely resemble semi-automatic weapons, prompting New York authorities to warn that possessing air guns is illegal and can lead to accountability and charges.
