Greer boy dies after mom says he tried online 'pass-out challenge'

GREER, SC A boy's tragic death is shining a light on a dangerous online challenge.

Davorius "Chi Chi" Gray, 11, was pronounced dead at Spartanburg Medical Center March 15 after family members say he played a game called "hangman." In the popular online challenge, people choke themselves to the point of passing out.

Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger said the Greer Police Department is still actively investigating the death and autopsy results are pending. Electronic analysis results are also pending, he said.

Family and friends say Davorius was a fun-loving child and known for being a prankster.

He was the last boy one would guess would do something to harm himself or others, said Mark Pangel, the family's pastor at 4 Points Church in Greer.

"I said, 'This can't be. This is not possible,'" Pangel said by phone Tuesday. "There's some kids you see that are troubled and it's a shame, and you say somebody should've got to him sooner. But he was not troubled, he was not depressed. He comes from a very good home. He's just a fun, great kid."

Pangel baptized Davorius just weeks before his death.

He said the days following the tragedy have been difficult, but he has preached a message of hope.

"I was in the hospital room with them. I wanted to fix it. It was one of first times in my life I couldn't buy my way out. I couldn't do my way out," Pangel said. "If anything, this has pointed so many people to the Lord. We can't help, we can just point and it's to the one who can help."

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 9:44 AM with the headline "Greer boy dies after mom says he tried online 'pass-out challenge'."