A late-night TikTok prank ended in tragedy when a Virginia homeowner allegedly opened fire and killed an 18-year-old.
The fatal incident took place around 3AM on Saturday (May 3), the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia disclosed.
Deputies responded to a call reporting a suspected residential burglary in progress near McKenzie Lane. When they arrived, they discovered two teens had been shot, per court records reviewed by The Washington Post.
Michael Bosworth Jr. was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died. A second teenager, a juvenile, was treated for minor injuries and released. A third teen, also a juvenile, was unharmed.
Authorities later revealed the shooting stemmed from a social media stunt gone wrong. The three teens had been filming a “ding-dong ditch” prank for TikTok - knocking on doors and running away before the homeowners could respond.
“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 told police he had video evidence on his phone of them performing the prank earlier that evening.
Following the investigation, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office charged the homeowner, 27-year-old Tyler Chase Butler, with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
He’s currently being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail with no bond. Butler reportedly told investigators he believed the teens were attempting to break into his home.
Bosworth was a senior at Massaponax High School. The shooting occurred just hours before his prom. His girlfriend, who attended alone, wore the pink bow tie he had planned to wear around her arm.
In a heartbreaking Instagram tribute shared with The Washington Post, she wrote: “You were the best boyfriend, person, brother, son, and friend that anyone could ask for...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.”
The Spotsylvania school district issued a statement offering support to students and staff in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“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, cited by The Mirror.
“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," they added.