Latest news with #SpotsylvaniaCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Arlington County homeowner warns about 'ding-dong ditch' pranks
The Brief A group of teens were caught on a doorbell camera going up to a man's Arlington County home, banging on the door and running away. The man says he's frustrated that they did it, but also says he's concerned something could happen if they keep this up. ARLINGTON COUNTY, Va. - A northern Virginia man says he's frustrated by a group of teens who did a version of "ding-dong ditch," banging on his door while dressed in ski masks and running away. He says he's also worried that something could happen to the kids if they keep this up—and bang on the wrong door. What we know Arlington County police are investigating. According to a report, officers responded to the man's home in the 5000 block of 38th Street, North, just before 11 p.m. on Memorial Day. "The first thing I did was call 911, made sure my baby was OK and then ran downstairs to see what was going on," homeowner Ryan Morgan told FOX 5. Police say a group of juveniles, wearing hoodies and a ski mask, knocked on the door of a residence before running away. The responding officers checked the area but did not locate the juveniles involved. The teens were caught on the homeowner's doorbell camera. One was dressed in an orange shirt and the other two were in hooded sweatshirts, banging on the front door repeatedly, The homeowner says he's sick of teens doing this in his Arlington County neighborhood and he is concerned that something bad could happen to them. What some would view as kids being kids or pranks is more serious to this homeowner. "When someone knocks on your door with a ski mask, you're concerned," said Morgan. When I saw that is was teenagers, I was more concerned for their safety because, you know, someone could have a gun, or, threaten them in some way." Dig deeper Just weeks ago, a teen was shot and killed in another Virginia neighborhood when he and his friends were reportedly recording themselves doing a TikTok 'Ding-dong Ditch' challenge. The deadly shooting happened around 3 a.m. on Saturday, May 3. READ MORE:Teen shot, killed by Virginia homeowner was reportedly doing TikTok challenge The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office says the teens were attempting to burglarize the Butlers' house when 18-year-old Massaponax High School senior Michael Bosworth was shot and killed. One of the two juveniles with him was shot and wounded. They told investigators they were recording themselves doing a "ding-dong ditch" as part of a TikTok challenge. READ MORE: Homeowner arrested for murder in high school student's death during alleged break-in One of Butler's neighbors who spoke with FOX 5 said his home surveillance system captured video of three teens coming up to his house not long before the shooting. The video showed the teens banging, kicking and slamming on the neighbor's garage door — not just ringing the doorbell. Tyler Butler, 27, was charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. His next court date is June 18.
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.
Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Indian Express
TikTok prank turns deadly: US teen shot dead during ‘ding dong ditch', homeowner charged with murder
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'. According to the New York Post, the incident occured when Michael Bosworth Jr, 18, and two of his friends, knocked on a door in a residential neighbourhood as part of the prank. Moments later, a hail of gunfire left Bosworth dead and one of his friends wounded, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. Tyler Chase Butler, 27, the homeowner, told detectives he believed the teenagers were trying to break into his home. However, statements from the surviving teens tell a different story. One of the boys, who was grazed by a bullet, told police that they were simply filming a prank for TikTok and looking for a place to hide when gunshots rang out, according to documents reviewed by local media. The third teenager, who was not injured, also told investigators the group was playing 'ding dong ditch,' a game where participants knock or ring someone's doorbell before running away. Bosworth was a student at Massaponax High School, where he played football and lacrosse and was also on the wrestling team. The shooting occurred just hours before his high school prom was set to take place. Butler was arrested Tuesday and is now facing several charges, including second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony. He is currently being held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail. 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 the teenagers' vehicle with his car. He was sentenced to life.
International Business Times
08-05-2025
- International Business Times
Virginia Teen Shot Dead in Ding Dong Ditch Prank Gone Wrong After Homeowner Mistook Him for Intruder
A northern Virginia man is now facing multiple charges after he allegedly shot and killed a high school student who mistook him for an intruder trying to break into his house. A friend of the teen claims it was all part of a TikTok challenge that took a turn for the worse. Tyler Butler, 27, is charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Butler is accused of shooting at three teenagers who were behind his Fredericksburg home. The deadly shooting happened around 3 a.m. on Saturday, May 3. The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office says the teens were attempting to burglarize the Butlers' house when 18-year-old Massaponax High School senior Michael Bosworth was shot and killed. One of the two juveniles with him was shot and wounded. They told investigators they were recording themselves doing a "ding-dong ditch" as part of a TikTok challenge. The prank involves knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell of an unsuspecting resident and fleeing from the spot before they can answer the door. One of Butler's neighbors who spoke with FOX 5 said his home surveillance system captured video of three teens coming up to his house not long before the shooting. The video showed the teens banging, kicking and slamming on the neighbor's garage door — not just ringing the doorbell. Bosworth's classmates held a vigil in his honor as part of their senior sunset celebration at school Tuesday night. Those who knew him are still trying to make sense of his death. Butler is being held without bond in the Rappahannock Regional Jail. His next court date is scheduled for June 18.
News18
08-05-2025
- News18
Virginia House Owner Shoots 18-Year-Old Student After TikTok Prank Goes Wrong
Last Updated: A high school student based in the USA died following a fatal prank against a neighbouring homeowner, who shot him down with a bullet. Michael Bosworth Jr, an 18-year-old student based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, died shockingly after being shot by a homeowner in a prank that went wrong. According to the New York Post, authorities reported a homeowner called Tyler Chase Butler, aged 27, allegedly killed Bosworth with a bullet during a ding dong ditch game early morning on Saturday, May 3. The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office said in the report that the incident occurred at 3 AM when the high school senior boy and his two friends knocked on Butler's door in the neighbourhood as part of their eventually fatal prank. Soon Butler came out and shot Bosworth out of suspicion, leading to his death. The homeowner also wounded one of his friends. In documents reviewed by local media, Butler has claimed to the detectives investigating the case that he believed the teenagers were trying to break into his house. But the surviving teens tell a different story. According to another boy graced by the gunshot, they were only filming a prank for their TikTok video and only rushed to find a place to hide when they heard the sound of the bullets being shot at them by Butler. A third teenager told the police officials and investigating authorities that they were playing the ding dong ditch game, where participants knock or ring someone's doorbell and run away. But a terrible confusion saw Butler consider them to be thieves trying to enter his home and aim a gunshot at Bosworth that the student never recovered from. Butler was arrested by the police on Tuesday, May 6 and is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. He now faces various charges imposed on him by the authorities, including second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony. Notably, Bosworth was a bright student studying at the Massaponax High School and was planning for his high school prom when the incident occurred just two hours before. He played football and was also part of his school's wrestling team. First Published: May 08, 2025, 11:16 IST
