A prank meant for TikTok ended in tragedy when a Virginia teenager was allegedly shot and killed during a ding-dong ditch stunt gone wrong. Local authorities say the homeowner’s County Sheriff’s Office opened fire on the group of teens, mistaking them for burglars.
The incident occurred just before 3 a.m. on Saturday in a suburban neighborhood outside Washington, D.C., according to a news release from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a burglary in progress and a firearm being discharged.
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Upon arrival, law enforcement officers found two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims, identified as Michael Bosworth Jr., was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. Another juvenile was treated for injuries and released, while a third teen involved in the incident was unharmed.
The homeowner, 27-year-old Tyler Chase Butler, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is currently being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.
According to NBC Washington, Butler told investigators he believed the teens were attempting to rob his home. However, one of the surviving teens stated that the group had been filming ding-dong ditch pranks for a TikTok video. The prank involves ringing a doorbell and running away before the homeowner answers.
The group had visited several homes in the neighborhood and was not familiar with the area, according to a search warrant affidavit cited by NBC News. “The juvenile stated that they had run to hide. The juvenile said that as they were running from a residence, he and his friends were shot at,” the affidavit reads.
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Another teen provided a similar account and showed investigators a video on his phone of them performing the prank earlier that day at a different home. Bosworth was a senior at Massaponax High School and was killed just hours before he was scheduled to attend his school’s prom.
In a letter to the school community, the district stated: “School counselors will be on site at the event to provide support as needed. Also, when students return to school on Monday, our counseling staff and additional division support team members will be available to provide support to our students and staff as needed. If your child needs support, please contact the school so that we can provide assistance. Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.”
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