A young boy in Connecticut is learning the meaning of community after he was the victim of a prank. Gabe Lyles and his dad, TJ, were shopping at the Southington Target store in Connecticut when they were approached by three men. The men claimed to be working with popular YouTuber MrBeast, and Gabe and his dad were selected to participate in one of their famous challenges, People reported.
Gabe told his dad they were chosen for the challenge because he's hearing impaired.
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"They said they wanted to do a fill-a-cart challenge where we would be blindfolded, and within 30 seconds whatever we could put within the cart they would pay for," TJ Lyles told their local CBS affiliate.
MrBeast is one of Gabe's favorite YouTubers, so he and his father believed the men when they said they worked for the channel.
They blindfolded themselves and began filling their cart, but soon TJ heard the men running away.
"My heart sank. The very last thing I want to do in this world is hurt him at all in any way, shape, or form," TJ explained.
In a Facebook post, TJ Lyles elaborated on what happened.
"In-between i did ask a target worker if this was a thing because they said it was in association with target, he did say he did not know but he was not a manage," the dad wrote.
"At the 10 second mark they bolted, leaving my son crying and confused," TJ said on Facebook.
"It broke my heart because I thought my dreams were coming true," Gabe told CBS WFSB.
In his Facebook post, TJ mentioned that three men were filming the prank on their phones.
TJ also added that the men intentionally targeted his son because he is hearing impaired.
“My son leaned in and said he couldn’t hear them, and they said that’s why we are choosing you for this challenge, because of your hearing loss,” TJ said. “When you say because of his special need, that’s why you chose him. At that point, I can’t at that point let it go.”
“I do not know what type of sick individual targets kids with special needs… I understand as an adult I should have known better but honestly I did not think someone would be as disgusting to stoop that low, truly I hope these three can live with themselves knowing they ruined a kids day and left him in tears,” he added.
After seeing TJ's Facebook post, their community stepped up to the plate. The Town of Southington Commission for Persons with Disabilities gave Gabe a $200 gift card to return to Target.
The Target employees, who "could not have been nicer," got together and matched the gift. Gabe got his shopping spree after all, stocking up on NERF guns and water balloons.
"It made me feel heartwarming and happy," the boy said.
