11-Year-Old Shot and Killed in Houston After Playing ‘Ding Dong Ditch,’ Police Report
An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed in Houston while playing a “ding dong ditch” prank, police said. The incident happened around 11 p.m. Saturday on Racine Street, when the child and friends rang a doorbell and ran. A resident came outside and opened fire, striking the boy as he fled.
He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead Sunday. Police used a bullhorn to call the suspect out of the home that night. One person was detained, released, and later brought back into custody, though no charges have been filed. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and police say a murder charge is likely since the shooting did not appear to involve self-defense.
Neighbors described the tragedy as heartbreaking, with one longtime resident noting he has a grandchild the same age.
11-Year-Old Shot and Killed in Houston After Playing ‘Ding Dong Ditch,’ Police Report
The case is the latest tied to the viral “ding dong ditch” challenge on TikTok, where participants bang or kick on doors and record it. Similar pranks have turned deadly in recent years, including the 2020 murders of three California teens, a May 2024 shooting of a Virginia high school senior, and an aggravated assault case in Dallas in July.
Authorities nationwide have warned that the trend is dangerous and could lead to both criminal charges and deadly outcomes.
Sunniva Bloom