An 11-year-old boy tragically lost his life in Houston following a ‘ding dong ditch’ prank that went disastrously wrong.
This prank involves someone ringing a doorbell and then quickly running away before the door can be answered.
The young boy, whose identity has not been disclosed, was participating in the game on the night of August 30 in Houston, around 10:55 pm near the streets of Mimbrough and Fidelity, as reported by the Independent.
A witness recounted to KHOU 11 that a person pursued the child down the street with a firearm and subsequently shot at him.
The Houston Police Department indicated that the boy was declared deceased on Sunday, August 31, as their investigation is still underway.
In a press release, they stated: “Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a juvenile male in the 9700 block of Racine Street about 10:55 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 30).
“The identity of the deceased male, 11, is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.”
Additionally, HPD Homicide Division Sergeant M. Cass and Detective J. Brown stated: “HPD patrol officers responded to a shooting call at the above address and learned a male was shot and had been transported to an area hospital. Doctors pronounced him deceased today (Aug. 31).
“Officers were told the male was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away. A witness stated the male was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound.”
Authorities mentioned that they had detained an individual on-site for questioning but later released the person. “Detectives are gathering more information as the investigation continues,” added the press release.
Investigators have seized multiple rifles and handguns from a property as evidence, and they are examining CCTV footage while coordinating with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to seek justice for the young boy and his family.
Community members were left stunned, unable to comprehend how a harmless prank could result in such a heartbreaking incident.
“What harm could they have done? Playing with a doorbell? That’s the part that really kind of hurts the heart,” a witness expressed to KHOU 11.
“For someone to shoot him in the back, they knew they were a kid. What’s the purpose of it?”
Sergeant Michael Cass, a homicide detective with the Houston Police Department involved in the investigation, informed KHOU 11 that a murder charge is ‘more than likely’.