A California woman was shopping in the baby aisle at Target in Tustin when a group of teen boys rushed over and put a bucket on her head as part of a TikTok prank known as the “Bucket Challenge.” Lana Clay-Monaghan had to go to the hospital after the assault, which saw the boys laughing at her as she asked for their help, Fox 11 reports.
- Clay-Monaghan passed out from the incident. She told Fox 11 that the last thing she remembered before losing consciousness was the group of boys laughing in her face and ignoring her pleas for aid. The four suspects were said to be teens under the age of 16 who pulled the prank for social media clout.
- The Tustin Police Department is still looking for the culprits. The force posted on Facebook explaining what happened and calling for a stop to senseless behavior in the aid of social media views. “On Sunday, March 26, 2023, at approximately 2:45 p.m., four male juveniles entered Target and began walking around. Several minutes later one of them picked up a bucket and placed it over the head of an adult female shopper. Several seconds later the juveniles are seen fleeing the store. As a result of the incident, the female shopper likely fainted and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition and a police report was taken,” the post read. “It is likely the juveniles were attempting to replicate the current social media trend where they place a bucket on a stranger’s head and film their reaction. There is no current threat to the community.”
- Local residents were outraged. Taking to the comments section, many remarked on the cruel prank and said it needs to stop. “Someone is going to put a bucket on the wrong person and someone will get really hurt,” one person remarked. “Putting a bucket on someone’s head isn’t a harmless prank. I think people should have a reasonable expectation to not be touched by strangers without warning. The end.” Another called for the teens to be prosecuted, writing: “In California, minors 12 years old or older are allowed to make SOME medical decisions without their parent’s consent (see informational note) because the law believes they are of sound mind to do so. The same logic should apply when determining charges to be brought against the suspects who of sound mind are committing acts of stupidity and/or crimes; in this case against an innocent citizen minding her own business.”
- Lana Clay-Monaghan is okay, but someone could get seriously hurt for a TikTok prank. Sadly, it seems these terrible trends are unlikely to abate anytime soon.
