Community rallies around a young boy with disabilities after a cruel prank at a Target store in Connecticut, leading to an outpouring of support.
The people of Connecticut are coming together to support an 8-year-old boy who was targeted by a nasty prank last weekend while he was shopping at Target.
Gabe Lyles and his father TJ were out doing some Saturday shopping in Southington when they were approached by three men who stated they were with MrBeast and that they had been selected to take part in one of MrBeast’s infamous challenges.
TJ told CBS Hartford affiliate WFSB-TV that the company had proposed a “fill-a-cart challenge” in which the participants would be blindfolded and given 30 seconds to load a shopping cart with whatever they could find.
The father said that his son had informed him that he and his son had been promoted despite Gabe’s disability.
TJ heard the men rushing away from the Lyles not long after they started playing the game.
TJ described the moment his son Gabe realized the challenge was a hoax and broke down in tears in a Facebook post.
“All three men video taped this with their phones,” TJ remarked. “I don’t know what kind of crazy person goes after children with special needs… I guess I should have known better as an adult, but I honestly didn’t think someone could be that low; I really hope those three can find peace knowing they caused a child so much pain.
The Commission for Persons with Disabilities in the Town of Southington awarded Gabe a $200 gift card after he shared his story online. Then, TJ added, Target matched the gift because its employees “could not have been nicer.”
On Sunday, Gabe and TJ went back to the store so the youngster could finally get his shopping spree, and he stated he bought Nerf water guns and water balloons.
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