Shaquille O’Neal To Cover Funeral Expenses For Teen Who Killed Himself On Instagram Live

On April 10th, a Georgia pre-teen accidently killed himself on Instagram Live while his followers watched.

“I heard a big boom. I couldn’t tell if it was a gunshot or what."

Shaniqua Stephens had just watched her 13-year-old son take out the trash Monday evening when she heard a noise just a few moments later.

"I just knew that it was something that was wrong,” she said

She and her daughter then ran upstairs and found him, motionless, with a gun on the floor.

“We kicked in the door. We found him just laying there in a pool of blood," Stephens recounted. "My daughter screamed and said, ‘Mom turn his phone off!' As I proceeded to look at his phone he was on Instagram Live.”

13-year-old Malachi Hemphill was live on Instagram handling the gun when it went off. He was rushed to Grady Hospital where he, later died.

Former NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal is extending his support to the Georgia teen and his family, by paying for all of his funeral expenses.

O’Neal stated, “No mother should have to go through this.” When O’Neal came by their house to state his intentions she said, “We just broke down and started crying because Malachi didn’t have any insurance,” Bankston said. “We weren’t prepared to bury him this young. We didn’t have insurance for him. So to have that from Shaquille O’Neal it was a blessing and very touching, and we appreciate everything he do for the community.”

As of Monday, April 17th, police found and arrested a “juvenile” in connection with Hemphill’s case, because he apparently gave him the gun. They are currently looking for who sold this young boy, that gun, now.

Police hope that even though this situation is tragic, it sends a message to young kids and parental guardians about watching their kids and teaching them more about gun safety.