The family of a 9-year-old boy near Memphis who was found unresponsive in his room last week is blaming his death on a reported TikTok challenge that dares people to strangle themselves and escape.

“To see that baby laying in that casket, hasn’t even had an opportunity to grow up,” said Barbara Williams, a great-great-aunt of LaTerius “TJ” Smith Jr. “You know, his life has ended because of some people putting stupid things on various sites.”

The boy’s family rushed him to the hospital after finding him unconscious with a belt around his neck. He was pronounced deceased.

“It wasn’t until later on that we found out there was some type of video on TikTok, you know, letting kids know how to strangle yourself,” Williams said. “But you got to get out of it, the challenge was to get out of it. But he’s 9 years old, so how was he going to get out of it?”

TJ would have turned 10 years old at the end of the month.

“TJ was a fun-loving, full of energy bundle of joy who touched many lives!! He loved his mother, father and his family as a whole. TJ loved God!! He enjoyed going to church!!” his obituary said, adding that he sang in the choir at his church.

Williams urged parents to be aware of what their children are looking at online.

A statement from TikTok said dangerous challenges like the Benadryl challenge and the blackout challenge have been banned by the site.