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12-Year-Old Dies After Choking at Yonkers Middle School

Authorities have opened a full investigation to determine cause and whether a viral TikTok eating challenge was involved.

Overview

  • School staff found the student in a fourth-floor hallway and performed the Heimlich, back slaps and CPR before he was taken to Saint Joseph’s Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
  • Police said they launched a full probe to review school camera footage, interview witnesses and check the student’s medical history as they seek to establish exactly what happened.
  • Multiple outlets reported the boy was eating a doughnut, possibly bought at a school fundraiser, though officials have not confirmed the item or how it caused the choking.
  • Sources identified the student as 12-year-old Jacob Medina, a detail reported by several outlets but described by police as part of an ongoing inquiry.
  • The district has provided grief counselors and a therapy dog for students and staff, and the community has organized fundraising and memorials as officials stress investigators must confirm any link to social media before drawing conclusions.