An 18-year-old was reportedly shot and killed by a homeowner who mistook a social media-style doorbell prank for a robbery in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This tragic event unfolded around 3 AM on Saturday when the victim and his friends were involved in a prank known as “Ding Dong Ditch.”
Michael Bosworth and two friends targeted the door of Tyler Chase Butler, 27, as part of the prank. Butler informed detectives that he thought the teenager was attempting to break into his residence, as reported by the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities revealed that Butler allegedly fired shots at the group, resulting in one death and another injury. The injured teen recounted that he was searching for a hiding spot when he heard the gunfire, while another friend explained that they were simply playing a game where they ring the doorbell or knock before running away.
Bosworth, a senior at Massaponax High School who played soccer and lacrosse, was shot just hours before his prom. His stepfather mentioned to NBC that he also participated in the school’s wrestling team.
Butler was arrested on Tuesday and is currently not in Rappahannock Regional Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He faces multiple charges, including two counts related to the use of a firearm, second-degree murder, and malicious wounding.
A similar incident occurred in 2020, when a 45-year-old man of Indian descent was involved in a shooting that resulted in the death of three 16-year-old boys over doorbell pranks. He was found guilty of murder in 2023 for purposely driving into a teenager’s vehicle and received a life sentence.
