Nationwide — Cortez “CJ” Williams Jr., an 8-year-old African American boy from St. Louis County, Missouri, died after a backyard swing set collapsed on him. Though he first appeared fine, his condition suddenly worsened, and he never woke up.
CJ was playing at his mother’s home on Larimore Road on Sunday when the swing set tipped over, according to . The heavy crossbar pinned his thigh until relatives pulled him free. He was alert afterward, talking, asking for water, and even requesting food.
His father, Cortez Williams Sr., was away for work when he received a FaceTime call from his daughter. She cried as she told him that CJ wasn’t responding. He had dropped his son off at his mother’s home that morning.
Family members said CJ showed no serious injuries aside from a small scratch on his stomach. They thought he was just tired. After lying down for a short nap, he tried to get up, collapsed again, and soon became unresponsive.
St. Louis County Police said first responders arrived at the home around 6 p.m. CJ was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead. The medical examiner will determine the cause of his death. Police are treating the case as an accidental death.
