An 11-year-old Texas boy was shot and killed Saturday night after a game of “ding, dong, ditch” turned deadly, according to police.
The child was playing the doorbell prank with a group of friends around 11 p.m. when he was shot and killed on Racine Street in Houston after knocking on a door and fleeing, according to the Houston Police Department.
Lt. Amber Khan of the Houston Police Department told KHOU 11 at the scene that the boy had “a couple of gunshot wounds” and was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
According to a police update issued on Sunday, the young boy died as a result of his injuries.
According to police, one person was detained for questioning after the shooting but has since been released.
KHOU 11 reported that Houston police are currently executing a search warrant as part of the investigation.
The prank, which involves ringing a doorbell and fleeing the scene to harass homeowners, has grown in popularity on TikTok and has resulted in other tragic incidents across the country in recent years.
In May, a Virginia homeowner allegedly shot and killed a high school athlete after the teenager and two friends knocked on the shooter’s door while playing “Ding Dong Ditch.”
In July 2024, a teen was shot and injured when a group of friends played the same prank on a gun-toting Maine homeowner before dawn.
The latest incident in Texas is still being investigated, and the 11-year-old’s identity is pending verification, according to police.
