Latest news with #MichaelBosworth
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Docs: Teens were shot in Spotsylvania County during ‘Ding Dong Ditch' for TikTok
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Three teens who were shot at during an alleged home burglary were attempting to 'Ding Dong Ditch' for TikTok, a search warrant obtained by DC News Now Thursday said. The incident happened on May 3, when the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) got a call around 3 a.m. about a burglary in progress in the area of McKenzie Lane. The resident had fired a gun at three people. Two of the three people had been shot. They were taken to the hospital, where 18-year-old Michael Bosworth, Jr. died. The other teenager, a minor, survived. Man charged for shooting, killing teenager during burglary, Spotsylvania County deputies say The search warrant said that one of the teens told officials that he and his friends 'were out doing a TikTok video reference to 'Ding Dong Ditch.'' The warrant was issued for two iPhones to search for any content related to 'Ding Dong Ditch.' According to the probable cause, one of the minors said that he and his friends had already gone to a couple of doors in the neighborhood, which he was not familiar with. He said that as he and his friends were running to hide, someone shot at them. The resident, 27-year-old Tyler Chase Butler, is facing charges for second-degree murder, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NDTV
08-05-2025
- NDTV
US Teen Plays TikTok Doorbell Prank, Gets Shot By Homeowner
An 18-year-old boy was allegedly shot dead by a homeowner after he mistook a TikTok-style doorbell prank for burglary in Virginia's Fredericksburg. The incident happened at around 3 am on Saturday, when the victim and his friends were recording a viral prank called "ding dong ditch." Michael Bosworth, along with his two friends, knocked on Tyler Chase Butler's door in the early hours to pull off the prank, according to The NY Post. Mr Butler, 27, told the detectives that he believed the teenagers were trying to break into his home, said the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. Authorities said Mr Butler allegedly opened fire on the trio, killing one and injuring another. The wounded boy told the authorities they were trying to find a place to hide when they suddenly heard gunshots. Another boy added they were just playing a game called "ding dong ditch," in which kids ring someone's doorbell or knock on the door and then run away before the person answers. Mr Bosworth, a senior at Massaponax High School who played lacrosse and football, was gunned down just hours before his prom, which was scheduled for that evening. The victim's stepfather told NBC that Mr Bosworth was also a part of the school's wrestling team. According to the sheriff's office, Mr Butler was arrested on Tuesday and is currently at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond. He has been accused of two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony, second-degree murder, and malicious wounding. A similar incident took place in 2020, when a 45-year-old Indian origin man killed three 16-year-old boys and seriously injured three others for a doorbell prank. In 2023, he was convicted on murder charges for deliberately ramming teenagers' vehicle with his car. He was sentenced to life.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
High School Senior Shot Dead While Filming TikTok Door-Knock Prank: Reports
Michael Bosworth, Jr., 18, was shot and killed by a homeowner in what police initially reported was a possible 'residential burglary in progress' in Spotsylvania County, Va., on Saturday, May 3 Suspect Tyler Butler, 27, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after he allegedly 'fired shots' at Bosworth and two other teenagers, fatally wounding Bosworth The two teenagers who survived said that they were filming a TikTok prank that went awry A high school senior has been killed in a TikTok prank gone wrong in Virginia. Michael Bosworth, Jr., 18, was shot and killed by a homeowner in what the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office initially reported was a possible 'residential burglary in progress' that occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. in Spotsylvania County on Saturday, May 3. In a news release, the sheriff's office said that Bosworth was taken to the hospital where he died. The sheriff's office identified the suspect as Tyler Butler, 27, in an updated release. He allegedly 'fired shots' at Bosworth and two other teenagers during what he claimed was a break-in at the property. One of the teenagers sustained 'minor injuries' in the shooting. 'The SCSO received a call for a residential burglary in progress, where a resident had fired shots,' the release read. 'Deputies responded to the area of Mckenzie Lane and discovered that two individuals had sustained gunshot wounds and a third individual was unharmed." The surviving teens claimed that they were recording a take on the popular 'ding-dong ditch' TikTok prank and said they weren't breaking into the house, NBC News4 Washington reported. Getty Stock image of a police car Stock image of a police car The prank involves knocking on someone's door and then running away before they can answer. One of the teenagers had a video of them pulling off the prank earlier that night, which was shared with investigators. Bosworth was a Massaponax High School senior who played lacrosse and football and wrestled. He was due to attend his prom on the same day of his shooting. The outlet described Bosworth's stepfather as 'heartbroken" after the tragedy. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. While no charges were initially filed due to an ongoing investigation, Butler was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, the sheriff's office reported. He is currently being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
18-year-old shot, killed by Spotsylvania County homeowner while reportedly trying to break-in
The Brief No charges have been brought after a homeowner shot and killed an 18-year-old in Spotsylvania County. Investigators say the 18-year-old was one of three teens attempting to break into the man's house. The boys who survived tell investigators they were recording themselves "dinging and ditching" for a TikTok challenge, not trying to commit burglaries. SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. - Authorities in Spotslyvania County say they're still deciding whether to charge a Fredericksburg-area homeowner in the fatal weekend shooting of a teenager. Investigators say the 18-year-old was one of three teens breaking into the man's house. Neighbors tell FOX 5 that the homeowner who shot the teen at his home Saturday is in the military. What we know The young man shot and killed was 18-year-old Michael Bosworth, Jr. His family says he played lacrosse and football for Massaponax High School. In fact, Monday night's varsity lacrosse game was canceled because of Bosworth's death. Officials with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office say Bosworth and two juveniles were in the backyard of a home on McKenzie Lane around three in the morning Saturday, trying to break into the house, when they were confronted by the homeowner. Bosworth was shot and killed. One of the other boys was wounded in the gunfire. Neighbors tell FOX 5 they heard as many as eight gunshots and that the teens had tried to break into other homes on the street that night. What they're saying "Not a good idea. It's not safe. Just don't do it," Fredericksburg resident Gabby Morrell said. The boys who survived tell investigators they were recording themselves "dinging and ditching" for a TikTok challenge, not trying to commit burglaries. "I'm sorry the kid did that. I wish he hadn't done what he did because he had to pay the ultimate price. Nobody likes that. Nobody. Not even the homeowner but it's very unfortunate," another Fredericksburg resident, Shawn Morrell, told FOX 5. Grief counselors were at Massaponax High School on Monday. Bosworth was set to graduate later this month. FOX 5 was told that Saturday night's prom went on as scheduled. Michael's step-father says they're mourning their son, who had siblings, and that they appreciate the love and support they're getting from the community.
