A Virginia man is facing two counts of murder following the fatal shooting of a teenager who was filming a TikTok prank called “Ding Dong Ditch” with friends around 3 AM on Saturday, as reported by court documents and local officials.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting report involving a resident during a robbery, discovering two teenagers with gunshot wounds. According to the Sheriff’s Office, one of the teenagers, Michael Bosworth Jr., 18, later succumbed to his injuries. The second teen was treated for minor injuries, while a third member of the group was unharmed. Both friends accompanying Mr. Bosworth were under 18.
The teenager had been in the area to create a TikTok video, as stated in an affidavit submitted to the Spotsylvania Circuit Court. The “Ding Dong Ditch” prank involves ringing a doorbell or knocking before fleeing, making it a prevalent trend on social media.
According to the affidavit, “The boy explained that this is a common activity for TikTok creators.”
The group was knocking on various doors in the neighborhood, with one teen mentioning they were not familiar with the area. They fled the house when shots were fired, and the affidavit indicates there is at least one video of the prank remaining on a friend’s phone.
Tyler Chase Butler, 27, from Spotsylvania County, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and using a firearm during a felony, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He is not currently held at Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Mr. Bosworth was a senior at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The school is set to hold senior graduations on May 13th, and has announced that counselors will be available to support students during this difficult time.
A representative from the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office declined to provide further comments when contacted. Butler’s legal team did not respond to requests for comments immediately. Federal attorney G. Ryan Mehaffey for Spotsylvania County also refrained from comments, noting a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18th.
This kind of prank has resulted in severe consequences in the past. In 2020, a California man, after being pranked in a similar way, crashed his vehicle into a group of six teenagers, leading to the tragic deaths of three. He received a life sentence in 2023.
On Tuesday, a group of students gathered on the soccer field of Massaponax High School to honor their classmate. A video published on an Instagram account run by students showcased their reflections about Mr. Bosworth, who they honored by writing messages on balloons and releasing them at sunset.
Jonathan Wolf and Michael Levenson contributed to this report. Susan C. Beach assisted with research.
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