Latest news with #SpotsylvaniaSheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fredericksburg K-9 sniffs out missing firearm
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (DC News Now) — A Fredericksburg Police Department K-9 sniffed its way to a firearm in a shooting investigation Friday. The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office requested a canine unit to search for a gun that had been discarded by a suspect while running from deputies. Gaithersburg man to spend 5 years in prison for aiming gun at police officer in social media video An officer and K-9 Roxy searched a wooded area when Roxy alerted to a handgun. The team successfully recovered the firearm, and the suspect was taken into custody by Spotsylvania deputies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Global News
09-05-2025
- Global News
Teen shot, killed by Virginia homeowner while recording TikTok prank
A Virginia homeowner was arrested on a murder charge after police say he shot and killed an 18-year-old high school senior when a TikTok prank went wrong. In a news release, the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office said officers received a call about a residential burglary in progress around 3 a.m. on May 3, during which a resident had fired shots. 'Deputies responded to the area of Mckenzie Lane and discovered that two individuals had sustained gunshot wounds and a third individual was unharmed,' the release added. According to police, Michael Bosworth Jr., 18, was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. 'The second injured individual is a juvenile, who was treated for minor injuries and released. The third involved individual was also a juvenile and will remain unnamed,' according to the news release. Story continues below advertisement Police later identified the suspect as Tyler Butler, 27, in an updated release. View image in full screen A mugshot of Tyler Chase Butler, who was arrested for second-degree murder after an 18-year-old was shot and killed. Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office / Facebook He was arrested on charges of second-degree murder, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in Bosworth's death. He is being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Butler told officers that he believed the teenagers were trying to break into his home, according to NBC Washington. One of the teens told detectives that they were recording a 'ding-dong ditch' prank for a TikTok video, in which they have someone ring people's doorbells and then run away before they can answer the door, according to a search warrant affidavit viewed by NBC News. Global News has not independently viewed the legal documents. Story continues below advertisement One teen said they had been to other houses in the neighbourhood but he was not familiar with the area. 'The juvenile stated that they had run to hide. The juvenile said as they were running from a residence, he and his friends were shot at,' the affidavit said, according to the outlet. The second teen gave a similar statement and told officers he had a video on his phone of them doing the prank earlier that day. Massaponax High School, where Bosworth was a student, released a statement following his death. 'School counselors will be on site at the event to provide support as needed,' the school district said in a letter. '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.' The Spotsylvania County commonwealth's lawyer is reviewing the evidence to determine if charges are appropriate or if the homeowner was justifiable in opening fire. Butler is set to have a preliminary hearing on June 18.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Homeowner in Virginia accused of killing teen filming 'ding dong ditch' TikTok prank
A Virginia teenager was allegedly shot and killed by a homeowner while filming TikTok prank videos with friends, according to authorities and a search warrant obtained by USA TODAY. The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office said officers received a call about a residential burglary in progress around 3 a.m. on May 3. Tyler Chase Butler, 27, a resident of McKenzie Lane, is accused of shooting and killing 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr. during the incident. The teenager's friends told deputies that they were filming TikTok videos of them doing a "ding dong ditch" prank when they were shot at, according to the warrant. Butler was arrested on May 6 and charged with several crimes, including second-degree murder. Bosworth was taken to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries, police said. A second individual, who police said is a juvenile, was also shot and treated for minor injuries. A third person was not injured, police said. According to the search warrant, Bosworth's friends told police they were knocking on doors in the area as part of a "ding dong ditch" prank they planned to upload to TikTok. The long-running game involves knocking on a person's door and running away before they can answer. The teens said they were shot while running to hide after knocking on a door. They also said they weren't familiar with the neighborhood. Butler was charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said. He was arraigned on May 7 and is set to have a preliminary hearing on June 18, court records show. Bosworth was a senior at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, which held its prom hours after his death. In a message to the district, shared with USA TODAY, Principal William Lancaster said the school is offering counseling staff and other support to students. "Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time," Lancaster said. Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY. She can be reached at MKhan@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Homeowner in Virginia accused of shooting teen recording TikTok prank
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Miami Herald
High school senior shot and killed in ding-dong ditch TikTok prank, VA cops say
National High school senior shot and killed in ding-dong ditch TikTok prank, VA cops say Deputies said they are investigating a shooting that killed an 18-year-old during a TikTok prank. Getty Images/iStockphoto A high school senior was shot and killed during a TikTok prank mistaken for a burglary, Virginia officials said. Deputies responded to a report of a possible burglary at about 3 a.m. May 3 in Fredericksburg, about a 60-mile drive north from Richmond, the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office said in a May 3 news release. A resident fired shots at the suspected burglars, injuring two of three teens involved, deputies said. Both injured teens were taken to a hospital, where one of them, identified as Michael Bosworth, Jr., died, according to the sheriff's office. The second teen was released after being treated for minor injuries. Another teen involved was not injured, deputies said. According to a search warrant, the teens were making a TikTok video of a 'ding-dong ditch' prank when the shooting happened, the Fredericksburg Free Press and WRC-TV reported. The age-old prank where a person rings a doorbell and runs away has become popular on the social media app, which includes several viral videos showing people participating in the trend. In a May 3 email to parents at Massaponax High School, where Bosworth attended, Principal William Lancaster shared the news of his death. The school's prom was scheduled for that evening, according to the email. Lancaster said it would be held as scheduled with school counselors on site. 'Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time,' Lancaster said in the email. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed, deputies said. Natalie Demaree mcclatchy-newsroom Go to X Email this person 479-616-0125 Natalie Demaree is a national real time reporter covering religion and the Southeast region for McClatchy Media. She holds a master's in journalism from Columbia Journalism School and a bachelor's in journalism and political science with a specialization in African and African American Studies from the University of Arkansas.
