A Virginia homeowner has been accused of shooting and killing a high school senior after the teenager knocked on his door as part of a TikTok challenge on Saturday, shortly before his prom night.
Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was taken into custody for the murder of 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr. on the front porch of his residence in rural Fredricksburg, about 50 miles from Richmond.
According to reports, Bosworth was participating in a ‘ding dong ditch’ prank with two friends as part of a well-known social media trend when Butler fired, also injuring another teenager.
Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office said along with murder, Butler has been charged with malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
He is being held in Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Charges have not yet been filed.
Bosworth was a Massaponax High School senior who played lacrosse and football and was also on the wrestling team, his stepfather told NBC 4 Washington.
The sheriff’s office said deputies initially responded to reports of a burglary in progress around 3am on Saturday, at the home on McKenzie Lane ‘where a resident had fired shots’.
Bosworth’s devastated girlfriend (pictured with him), who is a cheerleader at the same school, paid heartbreaking tribute to the slain teen as she went to prom without him on Saturday night
Tyler Chase Butler, 27, has been arrested for allegedly fatally shooting the 18-year-old on the doorstep of his home in rural Fredricksburg, 50 miles north of Richmond
High school sports star Michael Bosworth was reportedly playing ‘ding dong ditch’ with two friends as part of a popular social media prank when Butler opened fire
‘Deputies responded to the area and discovered that two individuals had sustained gunshot wounds and a third individual was unharmed,’ the sheriff’s office said.
‘Michael Bosworth, Jr. was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
‘The second injured individual is a juvenile, who was treated for minor injuries and released. The third involved individual was also a juvenile and will remain unnamed.
‘This is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident, therefore, no charges have been filed at this time.’
Bosworth was shot hours before his school prom, according to NBC 4.
His devastated girlfriend, who is a cheerleader at the same school, paid heartbreaking tribute to the slain teen as she went to prom without him on Saturday night.
She wore Bosworth’s bow tie on her wrist to the school event, saying he was ‘by her side’ in spirit.
Bosworth’s cheerleader girlfriend shared photographs of him on Instagram on Sunday
‘Nothing can explain the way I feel right now,’ the teenager wrote on her Instagram account on Sunday as she shared a series of photographs from prom and of Bosworth.
‘I am at a loss of words and just can’t believe this is even real. I feel like I’m living in my worst nightmare and will wake up from a dream.
‘But this is my reality, you will always be cherished in my heart forever.
‘You have been such an amazing boyfriend, these past three years have been my best days of living as even though sometimes everyday isn’t easy we always pushed through.
‘You were such an amazing person and so many people love you and miss you. This is not fair and you did not deserve this at all.
‘You stay forever in my heart and my love for you will never go away. You were the best boyfriend, person, brother, son, and friend that anyone could ask for.’
Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office released a booking photograph of Butler, who wore a white t-shirt and appeared expressionless.
Butler told detectives the teenagers had been trying to break into his home – but the wounded teenager said they were just recording a TikTok prank video, according to police documents obtained by local media.
Bosworth (pictured left) was a Massaponax High School senior who played lacrosse and football and was also on the wrestling team, his stepfather told NBC 4 Washington
The sheriff’s office said deputies initially responded to reports of a burglary in progress around 3am on Saturday, at the home on McKenzie Lane ‘where a resident had fired shots’
The boy who was grazed by a bullet said videos on the teenagers’ phones prove that they were playing a game, not attempting to break in to Butler’s home.
He said they were not familiar with the neighborhood and were attempting to run away when shots were fired.
Video posted on social media showed Bosworth’s friends releasing black and blue balloons on the sports field in his memory on Tuesday.
Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office on 1-800-928-5822 or 1-540-582-5822.
