A Texas man opened fire late Saturday night on a group of kids playing “ding dong ditch” pranks in east Houston, fatally shooting an 11-year-old boy.
According to Houston Police, on the night in question, children were playing a game by ringing doorbells and running away, reported KHOU. During one such instance, a man emerged from a house and opened fire as the kids fled, hitting a child in the back.
“A witness mentioned that someone rushed out of the house firing at the children who were escaping down the street, and tragically, an 11-year-old boy was shot in the back,” explained HPD Homicide Detective Sgt. Michael Cass.
KPRC reported that the boy was hit multiple times. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he died on Sunday, KTRK said.
The news station reported that following the incident on Saturday night, a person was detained, and officers were observed using a bullhorn for communication. However, the individual was released and then taken into custody again on Sunday night.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was being interrogated by investigators, though no arrest had been made, according to KHOU. Sgt. Cass suggested that based on current evidence, a self-defense claim is unlikely to hold.
“In my assessment, this doesn’t appear to be a self-defense scenario. It occurred away from the residence, indicating it might result in a murder charge,” stated Cass.
Cass also said that police executed a search warrant on the house and seized an arsenal of weapons, including several rifles and handguns.
At least one neighbor blamed the 11-year-old victim.
“You just don’t go knocking on people’s doors,” the neighbor said.
Another neighbor cited the nature of the prank.
“What possible threat could they pose by just ringing a doorbell? That’s the part that deeply saddens the heart,” expressed a neighbor. “For someone to target a child in such a manner, it was evident they knew it was a kid. What was the motive?”
Cass said detectives are working with the district attorney’s office on possible charges and reviewing surveillance footage.
