A teenage boy was shot and killed by a homeowner in Houston, Texas, while playing the prank 'ding dong ditch' with friends.
According to reports from the Associated Press (AP) and CNN on the 1st (local time), a boy, 11, was shot and killed around 11 p.m. on the 30th of last month in a Houston neighborhood while playing the prank 'ding dong ditch' with friends when a person from one of the dwellings fired a gun.
Police have arrested the homeowner who fired the shots and are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Local authorities stated that the shooting is difficult to view as self-defense. The man is in custody but has not yet been formally charged.
CNN reported that the incident appears to be related to a trend of TikTok videos. The 'prank' category, centered around short videos, has gained popularity on TikTok, and filming such pranks to increase views has become a trend.
In May of last year, an 18-year-old man was killed by a homeowner's gunfire while playing the same prank in Virginia. In 2023, a 45-year-old man in California caused the death of three teenagers when he ran them over with his vehicle while they were pulling pranks.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in Indiana cautioned that, 'Although these pranks are done for fun, they can lead to serious consequences.'