Virginia Homeowner Charged with Murder in Fatal Shooting of Teen During Alleged TikTok Prank

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A 27-year-old Virginia homeowner has been charged with second-degree murder following the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old high school senior, Michael Bosworth Jr., in what authorities initially reported as an attempted burglary. The incident, which occurred around 3 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Spotsylvania County, has sparked debate after two surviving teens claimed they were filming a “ding-dong-ditch” prank for TikTok, according to court documents and police statements.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting a residential burglary in progress on McKenzie Lane, where the homeowner, identified as Tyler Chase Butler, allegedly fired shots. Upon arrival, deputies found Bosworth, a senior at Massaponax High School, suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. He was transported to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, where he later died. A second teen sustained minor injuries from a grazing bullet, while a third teen was unharmed, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Butler, who was arrested on Tuesday, May 6, faces charges of second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is currently being held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail, court records show. Butler told investigators he believed the teens were attempting to break into his home, a claim that contrasts with the surviving teens’ account.

According to a search warrant affidavit obtained by NBC News, the surviving teens admitted to detectives that they were recording “ding-dong-ditch” pranks, a popular social media trend where participants ring a doorbell or knock on a door and flee before the resident answers. One teen, who was grazed by a bullet, told authorities the group had targeted several homes in the neighborhood and planned to post the videos on TikTok. The uninjured teen provided a similar account and voluntarily shared a cellphone containing at least one video of the prank, court records indicate.

The shooting occurred hours before Bosworth was set to attend his senior prom at Massaponax High School, where he was a three-sport athlete, participating in football, lacrosse, and wrestling. The tragedy, which took place less than two weeks before his graduation, has left the community in mourning. Massaponax High School Principal William Lancaster III sent a letter to families offering counseling resources to students, local media reported.

While the surviving teens were read their Miranda rights, no charges have been filed against them as of May 8, 2025, according to WJLA. However, a neighbor’s home surveillance footage, obtained by FOX 5 DC, reportedly showed the teens banging, kicking, and slamming on a garage door at another residence earlier that night, raising questions about the nature of their actions. Some reports have speculated whether the teens were participating in a more aggressive trend, such as the “TikTok Door Kick Challenge,” which involves violently kicking doors to startle residents, though no evidence confirms this in the Spotsylvania case.

The incident has reignited discussions about the dangers of social media pranks and homeowners’ rights to self-defense. A similar case in 2020 involved an Indian-origin man in California who was convicted of murder in 2023 for deliberately ramming his car into a group of teens playing a doorbell prank, resulting in the deaths of three 16-year-olds.

The Spotsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney is reviewing evidence to determine the appropriateness of the charges against Butler. It remains unclear whether Butler has retained legal representation, as no attorney was listed in court records as of May 8.

This case continues to unfold as investigators analyze cellphone footage and other evidence to clarify the circumstances surrounding Bosworth’s death. The community, meanwhile, grapples with the loss of a promising young athlete and the complex questions raised by a prank gone tragically wrong.

Sources: The Washington Post, NBC News, USA Today, The Indian Express, New York Daily News, WJLA, People, FOX 5 DC, E! News

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