​‘No Lackin’ Social Media Challenge Leads To Bullet In The Head For Teen Boy

A 17-year-old boy is currently in critical condition after a viral social media game went horrifically wrong.

The New York Post reports the Tennessee-based teen and his buddy, Sherman Lackland, 21, decided to try out the 'No Lackin Challenge' inside a local restaurant on Thursday. The video craze started on YouTube, involving pairs of people pulling guns on each other.

While the game sounds dangerous enough, a key rule notes that no shots are to be fired.

However, this was sadly not the case for Lackland and his friend, when the older of the pair accidentally set off his .40-caliber handgun while they sat in a booth at the E's Café in Memphis.

According to a statement, the bullet went straight into the right side of the unnamed teen's head.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, who was inside the restaurant when the shooting happened, told WMC-TV: "A real loud bang, then I see the guy across from him fall in the floor. He started grabbing him and telling him to get up and then he was kind of mad and was swinging stools and stuff."

PA

Following the incident, which took place at around 5am, he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Lackland is now facing charges after playing the game, which many say should never be played again, for aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Commenter Rebecca Birch said: "That's not what they're made for, and they shouldn't be having guns in the first place." Meanwhile, West Moore stated: "It's something that you shouldn't tamper with. It's too many kids being killed as it is."

To offer some background on the incident, the 'No Lackin Challenge' cropped up on the internet in recent years, with 'Lackin' referring to not having a firearm on you.

Obviously mucking about with firearms is never a good idea, loaded or not, so don't try this at home.

In fact, just generally, don't try any potentially life-threatening challenge at home.

Let's just all promise not to attempt viral challenges that could cause irreversible damage, because in fact, your mum was right when she asked you: "If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?" Just say no, guys. And in the case of the Lackin victim, let's hope he pulls through and recovers.

Topics: US News, USA

Mischa Pearlmen

Mischa is a freelance journalist usually based in either New York or London. He has written for Kerrang!, Record Collector, NME, the New York Observer and FLOOD magazine, among others. Contact him at [email protected]