Teens were playing ding dong ditch in a TikTok stunt when a resident opened fire, killing one and injuring another, according to Virginia police.
Tyler Chase Butler, 27, has been charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of using a firearm to commit a felony.
According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a call around 3 a.m. Saturday reporting a home burglary in progress in which the resident fired shots. When they arrived, cops discovered two teens with gunshot wounds. One, later identified as 18-year-old Michael Bosworth, Jr., was rushed to the hospital and died.
The other teen sustained minor injuries and was also transported to the hospital. According to a warrant request filed in Spotsylvania Circuit Court and obtained by Law&Crime, detectives spoke with the teen, who stated that he was out with Bosworth and another friend playing a well-known prank in which people ring a home’s doorbell before fleeing.
“The juvenile advised it’s something that people are doing to put on TikTok,” according to a cop.
According to the warrant, the teens were unfamiliar with the neighborhood and had attempted the prank on a couple of other doors before arriving at the fateful address on McKenzie Lane in Fredericksburg, about 60 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. According to the warrant, the teen told officers that they were fleeing the house when they were shot at.
Detectives also spoke with the uninjured teen who gave the same account and voluntarily gave them his cellphone, which contained videos of them hitting other homes.
In the warrant, detectives request that a judge search the phone for “any videos, photographs, or text communication reference to processing, making, or having ‘Ding Dong Ditch’ videos.”
On Tuesday, police arrested Butler. He is in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
Bosworth’s family is devastated. His stepfather told local NBC affiliate WRC that the teen was a senior at Massaponax High School who was planning to attend prom later that night. He played football and lacrosse at school and was scheduled to graduate this month.
The ABC affiliate WIJA obtained a letter sent to parents by principal William Lancaster III.
As a parent/guardian, it is always difficult to know how to answer questions about grief and loss. Children respond to death differently, and their reactions will depend on the relationship they had with the person who died, their age, and prior experiences with loss. This evening, we plan to hold prom as scheduled. School counselors will be on-site at the event to provide support as needed. Additionally, when students return to school on Monday, our counseling staff and additional division support team members will be available to assist students and staff. If your child needs support, please contact the school so we can help. Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.