A homeowner has opened up about why he fatally shot a teenager who was performing a TikTok prank.
Michael Bosworth Jr., a senior at Massaponax High School, was shot and killed on May 3 around 3:00AM in Fredericksburg, Virginia — just hours before his senior prom.
The incident, which took place on McKenzie Lane, has sparked national outrage and renewed debates about the risks of viral challenges.
According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a suspected residential burglary in progress.
When they arrived, they found that two teens had been shot — one fatally and the other with minor injuries. A third teenager was unharmed.
From the start, investigators believed the situation was linked to a TikTok stunt gone wrong.
Bosworth and his two friends were reportedly participating in a “ding-dong ditch” prank — ringing doorbells and running away — with plans to upload the footage online.
One of the teens told police they were unfamiliar with the neighborhood and had no intention of breaking in or stealing anything.
“The juvenile stated that they had run to hide. The juvenile said as they were running from a residence, he and his friends were shot at,” read a search warrant affidavit obtained by NBC News.
Another teen backed up the story and even handed over a phone containing a similar video they had recorded earlier that night.
The alleged shooter, 27-year-old Tyler Chase Butler, was arrested and charged with 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.
Butler told detectives that Bosworth and the two other teens knocked on his door in the early morning hours, which left him panicked. Believing he was being burglarized, he claimed he opened fire to defend himself and his property, per NBC Washington.
One teen was reportedly grazed by a bullet and treated for minor injuries before being released.
The heartbreaking news shattered Bosworth’s community — especially his girlfriend, Malinda Garcia, a cheerleader at the same school. She attended prom alone, wearing the pink bow tie Bosworth had planned to wear around her arm as a tribute.
“You were the best boyfriend, person, brother, son and friend that anyone could ask for,” she wrote in an emotional Instagram post shared with The Washington Post.
“I’m so glad I got to share my life with you and learn to love you and cheer you on through everything because you are one of a kind,” she continued.
“Nothing can explain the way I feel right now. I am at a loss of words and just can’t believe this is even real. I feel like I’m living in my worst nightmare and will wake up from a dream. But this is my reality, you will always be cherished in my heart forever.”
Bosworth was an avid athlete, playing lacrosse, football, and wrestling. On Tuesday, his community gathered to release black and blue balloons in his memory.
His family also announced a celebration of life will be held on May 20 at a local chapel, inviting friends to join in honoring his memory.
The Spotsylvania school district issued a public statement offering support for grieving students and staff.
“School counselors will be on site at the event to provide support as needed. Also, when students return to school on Monday, our counseling staff and additional division support team members will be available to provide support to our students and staff as needed,” the statement read.
“If your child needs support, please contact the school so that we can provide assistance. Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time,” it added.