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dalton99a

(90,343 posts) Mon Sep 1, 2025, 12:38 AM Sep 1

11-year-old boy fatally shot in Houston after 'ding dong ditch' doorbell-ringing prank, police say [View all]

https://apnews.com/article/doorbell-prank-child-shot-houston-44fa27d558124837dac2cdeb14317b3d

11-year-old boy fatally shot in Houston after ‘ding dong ditch’ doorbell-ringing prank, police say
By JACK BROOK
Updated 8:18 PM CDT, August 31, 2025

An 11-year-old boy was fatally shot in Houston after a prank in which he rang the doorbell of a home and ran away, police said Sunday.

The boy had been ringing doorbells as a prank late Saturday evening, the Houston Police Department said in a statement. Commonly referred to as “ding dong ditching,” the prank involves fleeing before someone inside the home opens the door.

The boy, who has not yet been identified, died of his wounds Sunday, police said.

Police spokesperson Shay Awosiyan said that officers were still investigating and had not arrested anybody in connection with the boy’s death as of Sunday evening.

Other “ding dong ditch” pranks have turned deadly in the past. In 2023, a Southern California man was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder for killing three teenage boys by intentionally ramming their car after they rang his doorbell as a prank.

And in May, a Virginia man was charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting an 18-year-old who had rung his doorbell while a filming a TikTok video of the prank, the New York Times reported.

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11-year-old boy fatally shot in Houston after 'ding dong ditch' doorbell-ringing prank, police say [View all] dalton99a Sep 1 OP

There was a lady a block up from where I grew up who would come out with a rifle to scare us all off. chowder66 Sep 1 #1

Don't care how much one loves guns and chit, no excuse for shooting unless they broke in the house. Silent Type Sep 1 #2

If I were a prosecuting attorney in this case Oeditpus Rex Sep 1 #4

Agree! If someone is outside your house -- and especially running away -- I can think of very Silent Type Sep 1 #6

If one thinks the situation is so dangerous that you need a gun in hand... Kaleva Sep 1 #8

Unless one is being stalked Oeditpus Rex Sep 1 #12

Castle doctrine should NOT apply RandomNumbers Sep 1 #21

Thank you, Kyle Rittenhouse. Captain Zero Sep 1 #10

Or George Zimmerman. Silent Type Sep 1 #11

The Republicans have got everybody scared of "criminals" yardwork Sep 1 #19

Geez! That's scary 😮 FirstLight Sep 1 #3

And there are DUers who are trying to encourage others here to get guns Kaleva Sep 1 #5

I have been disappointed in number of folks supporting guns too. I think gun laws strict enough Silent Type Sep 1 #7

I agree. If DUers are now advocating getting guns, then any chance at meaningful gun control is lost. Kaleva Sep 1 #9

I don't think gun evangelists are concerned about others' safety Oeditpus Rex Sep 1 #13

As you yourself pointed out above NickB79 Sep 1 #15

And that requires planning and extensive training Kaleva Sep 1 #17

OMG. We played that game bamagal62 Sep 1 #14

Kids didn't get shot in those days for TPing their neighbors or ringing their doorbells. Ocelot II Sep 1 #26

People and their guns. Sad Emile Sep 1 #16

You all know there's a tic toc vid out there of a boy doing a ding-dong Baitball Blogger Sep 1 #18

We called it "Ring & Run" here in NYC Polybius Sep 1 #20

Shit that literally only happens in America Johonny Sep 1 #22

This is horrible, and also in the year 2025 in Texas pinkstarburst Sep 1 #23

And it's all his fault! Oeditpus Rex Sep 1 #28

Nowhere did I say he deserved it pinkstarburst Sep 1 #30

Nowhere did I say you said he deserved it Oeditpus Rex Sep 1 #32

I am absolutely saying that all parents should be warning pinkstarburst Sep 2 #33

So, once again, Oeditpus Rex Sep 2 #34

In the 50s we did it in a sort of "double dog dare" way for the spooky houses. Ping Tung Sep 1 #24

More Texas "standing your ground" style. republianmushroom Sep 1 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author synni Sep 1 #27

Just awful. hamsterjill Sep 1 #29

It's the fucking guns. It's the fucking guns. It's the fucking guns. It's the fucking guns. It's the fucking guns. Initech Sep 1 #31

Wow that really bothers somebody gotta get up to answer the door unfreaking believable Tribetime Sep 2 #35