A tragic incident unfolded when a prank by three teenagers ended with one of them losing his life after a homeowner allegedly opened fire.
Authorities have identified the victim as 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr., who died from gunshot wounds earlier this week.
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia reported receiving a call on May 3 at around 3 am regarding a potential home burglary with shots fired.
The event appears to have been based on a TikTok prank that went tragically wrong.
The Sheriff’s Office stated: “Deputies responded to the area of Mckenzie Lane and discovered that two individuals had sustained gunshot wounds and a third individual was unharmed.
“Michael Bosworth, Jr. (18) was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The second injured individual is a juvenile, who was treated for minor injuries and released. The third involved individual was also a juvenile and will remain unnamed.”
An ABC 7 News report mentioned that the two surviving teens explained the situation to law enforcement, describing it as a prank.
They had engaged in a ‘ding-dong ditch’ prank, a practice where individuals ring doorbells and flee before the homeowner can respond, intending to share the prank on TikTok as part of a viral trend.
The police later updated the public on Facebook, confirming the arrest of the homeowner involved in the shooting.
The post by the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office stated: “Tyler Chase Butler (27) of Spotsylvania County was arrested for Murder 2nd degree, Malicious Wounding and 2 counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. He is being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond.”
Michael Bosworth was a senior at Massaponax High School, and the tragic event happened just hours before the school’s prom night.
His girlfriend, attending the prom alone, wore the pink bow tie he had intended to wear, as a tribute to him.
She shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, as reported by the Washington Post: “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 school district released a statement offering support to students affected by the tragedy.
The statement included: “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.
“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.”