HOUSTON, Tx. (AP) – A tragic incident occurred in Houston where an 11-year-old boy was shot and killed after playing a prank that involved ringing a home’s doorbell and running away, police reported on Sunday.
The Houston Police Department explained that this incident happened late Saturday evening when the young boy engaged in the prank, often known as “ding dong ditching.” This activity includes ringing a doorbell and escaping before the resident answers.
The boy, who has not yet been identified, died of his wounds Sunday, police said.
According to police spokesperson Shay Awosiyan, the investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made concerning the boy’s death as of Sunday evening.
Unfortunately, similar pranks have had deadly outcomes before. In 2023, a man in Southern California was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder after he chased and struck the vehicle of three teenage boys post-prank, resulting in their deaths.
Likewise, in May, the New York Times noted that a man in Virginia faced charges of second-degree murder after fatally shooting an 18-year-old who was recording a TikTok video of the prank when he rang the man’s doorbell.
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Brook is associated with The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit program that enlists journalists to work with local news outlets to cover stories that are often overlooked.
