Chilling pictures from scene of TikTok Orbeez gun challenge death show bloody handprint after teen shot in face & killed
CHILLING images, including a bloody handprint, revealed the gruesome scene at a TikTok challenge that went horribly wrong – and resulted in the death of a teenager.
The fatal end came about as a New York teen was taking part in an Orbeez challenge on the popular social media site – when he was reportedly ‘shot in the face’ by an off-duty officer.
TikToker, Raymond Chaluisant, 18, from the Bronx, New York died, NYPD spokesperson Anwar Ishmael confirmed to The U.S. Sun.
Corrections officer, Dion Middleton has been charged with murder, as well as manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, according to authorities.
The 45-year-old allegedly shot the teen on July 21, while the youth was using a toy water gun featured in a viral TikTok dare.
The challenge involves shooting Orbeez soft gel or water balls from airsoft guns, firing at innocent victims from a car.
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According to police, Chaluisant was shooting the water gun from inside a vehicle.
Middleton was struck by the pellets and thought he was hit by a real gun, according to Spectrum NY1, which said he returned fire at the car with his gun.
There was at least one other passenger in the vehicle.
Middleton then allegedly shot him with his own weapon, firing more than once.
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The incident took place on one of the hottest days of the year in New York, which is currently experiencing a heat wave, with blistering temperatures in the 90s.
Chaluisant’s older sister, Jiraida Esquilin, 29, told the Daily News that her little brother was just taking part in a water gun fight with neighborhood friends on a hot summer night.
“I can’t believe a corrections officer killed my brother,” Esquilin told the paper. “Everything nowadays is a rage thing.”
She went on, saying: “They were just having fun. It’s a new nerf gun that shoots water. The whole neighborhood was having a water gun fight. It was 90 degrees.”
Esquilin also told the paper that her brother was well-liked by everyone in the community, and that the tragedy came just five months after her father died.
She added that the boy’s mother was unable to identify the slain youth, because, she revealed, he was reportedly shot at close range in the chin, per the Daily News.
The paper also reported the family doesn’t know who Chaluisant was with, but he had told his mother earlier he was going to McDonald’s.
Police tell The Sun the fatal shooting took place at Cross Bronx Expressway and Morris Ave.”
However Chaluisant was found unconscious (about a half mile away), when authorities arrived.
He was reportedly in the passenger seat of a silver Acura.
The NYPD told The Sun cops arrived at 1:35am at the Grand Concourse and East Tremont Avenue in Mount Hope. The department also confirmed to us the victim was found “unconscious with a gunshot wound to his face.”
The teen was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to NYPD.
Police did not immediately release the name of the vehicle’s driver, but did say it was a 22-year-old acquaintance of Chaluisant’s from Yonkers.
Middleton was arrested today at a NYPD shooting range, where he works in training. He reported for work as usual, but was tracked down through police surveillance of his vehicle, per authorities.
The social media trend has been raising concern in some communities and among police departments in part of the country, according to 6ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On Thursday evening, the NYPD tweeted out a reminder to locals that the toys were illegal in New York City.
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“Bead Blasters shoot gel water beads propelled by a spring-loaded air pump, making them an air rifle,” the post read.
“Air rifles are a violation in NYC & are unlawful to possess. Violators found in possession of these will be issued a criminal summons & the weapon will be confiscated,” the message went on.The Sun has reached out to the NYPD for further details.