SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 6-year-old boy may have been trying to imitate wrestling moves when he hanged himself from a bedroom doorknob.

A family friend, the Rev. Jimmie Joe Smiley, said Kareem Pendergraph loved to watch wrestling on television.

"That's the only thing they could think of that happened," Smiley told the Syracuse Post Standard.

Kareem's death is particularly tragic for the Syracuse, N.Y., family. Police said the family lost a 7-month-old child from sudden infant death syndrome in 2003 and an 11-month-old child died of pneumonia in 1998.

Police said Kareem's death appears to be accidental, but that it still is under investigation.

The boy lived with his grandparents. The family friend said Kareem was alone with his grandfather when the accident took place. The boy had asked if he could watch a professional wrestling show on TV and went upstairs to play.

He was discovered hanging from a belt when his grandmother and uncle came home later that night, police said.

Smiley said the family is devastated by its series of losses.

"When I saw the grandfather this morning, he just fell into my arms. He said, 'Why is this happening?' " Smiley said.

The Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office is expected to perform an autopsy Monday.

Smiley said the boy's mother, Ciana Graham, was devastated by the loss of a third child.

"This is just a tragedy. We just don't understand. Sometimes it seems that it's unjust and unfair. But God saw them through the past two," Smiley told the paper. "We all are in shock and reeling. But I tell you one thing. They were a loving family. They took extremely good care of them. They really loved that boy."

He went on to say that there was no abuse in the household.

"These are just tragic incidents that have taken place. Only God knows why. I wouldn't even try to explain why. It's in the hands of God," Smiley said.

The boy's father, Kareem Pendergraph, has been in state prison since Sept. 11 for a parole violation.