A Virginia man is being held with out bond after allegedly opening fireplace on a gaggle of youngsters enjoying a TikTok prank, killing one and wounding one other in a late-night incident that has ignited a debate over the boundaries of self-defense and social media-fueled stunts.
Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was arraigned Monday on fees of second-degree homicide, malicious wounding, and use of a firearm within the fee of a felony. A Spotsylvania County choose appointed him a public defender and ordered him to stay in custody till his subsequent court docket look on June 18.
Butler was arrested at some point after the Might 3 capturing that left 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr., a fourth-year pupil at Massaponax Excessive College, useless simply hours earlier than he was to attend his senior promenade. One other teen survived after being grazed by a bullet and a 3rd teen was unhurt.
Authorities say the incident occurred round 3 a.m. on McKenzie Lane in Fredericksburg, the place Butler lives. Butler had referred to as 911 to report a housebreaking in progress and informed deputies that he fired photographs at suspects trying to interrupt into his residence. However the surviving teenagers informed investigators they have been collaborating in a viral TikTok development often known as the “Ding Dong Ditch” problem — ringing doorbells and working away.
“The juvenile acknowledged he and his buddies had hit a few doorways within the neighborhood,” in response to court docket paperwork. “The juvenile just isn’t aware of the neighborhood that they have been in. The juvenile acknowledged that they needed to run to cover. The juvenile mentioned as they have been working from a residence, he and his buddies have been shot at.”
A detective confirmed that each teenagers gave constant accounts, and one confirmed the same prank video on their telephone recorded earlier that night time. Detectives seized the teenagers’ iPhones with search warrants to find any movies or communications associated to the problem.
Bosworth was struck within the torso and later died at Mary Washington Hospital. The surviving sufferer was handled and launched.
In a information launch, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned a caller had reported that three people have been trying to kick down a door earlier than photographs have been fired. Authorities haven’t publicly confirmed whether or not Butler himself made the emergency name.
The capturing has stirred deep feelings and powerful opinions throughout the Spotsylvania County group and on-line.
At a vigil held on the Massaponax Excessive College soccer subject, college students wore blue and pink — Bosworth’s favourite colours — and launched balloons and lanterns bearing handwritten messages. His teammates wrote “Lengthy stay Bos,” referencing his nickname. One balloon displayed the quantity “25,” symbolizing his anticipated commencement yr—now the yr of his demise.
Bosworth’s girlfriend, Malinda Garcia, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, carrying the pink bow tie he had deliberate to put on to promenade round her wrist. “You have been the most effective boyfriend, particular person, brother, son and good friend that anybody may ask for,” she wrote. “I’m so glad I received to share my life with you and study to like you and cheer you on by way of the whole lot since you are considered one of a sort.”
His stepfather described him as a devoted lacrosse participant who additionally wrestled and performed soccer. He had plans to affix the U.S. Marine Corps after commencement.
Neighbor Maria Sedlak expressed sympathy for each the Bosworth household and the house owner. “I simply really feel prefer it was very unlucky all the best way round,” she informed WUSA9. “I really feel sorry for his mother and father, however I additionally really feel sorry for my neighbors. If somebody got here and tried kicking on my door, we’d have been defending our home too.”
On-line customers additionally felt sympathy for Butler with some questioning why he was charged.
“Sooo, wait. THREE unknown intruders have been within the man’s yard at 3 am enjoying “ding ding ditch”, different neighbors within the space reported tried break ins and this man was STILL charged with homicide for capturing these intruders as a result of they mentioned it was a prank? What sort of sh*t?,” wrote one person on X, previously Twitter.
Butler can also be scheduled to look in court docket subsequent week on unrelated misdemeanor fees of violating a protecting order and unlawfully disseminating pictures of one other particular person. His public defender has not commented on the case, and makes an attempt to succeed in Butler’s residence have been unsuccessful. His listed telephone quantity was disconnected.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the same case in Missouri simply months earlier, the place a registered intercourse offender, Melvin Rankin, was arrested after allegedly robbing and threatening youngsters at gunpoint throughout a “ding-dong-ditch” prank. Rankin chased the teenagers down in his automotive and compelled them to lie on the bottom whereas interrogating them. He now faces a number of felony fees, together with theft and illegal use of a weapon.
As social media challenges more and more intersect with real-world risks, the demise of Michael Bosworth has turn out to be a part of a rising nationwide dialog concerning the penalties of viral pranks and the way far owners can or ought to go in response.
