11-Year-Old Fatally Shot During “Ding Dong Ditch” Prank in Houston

An 11-year-old boy died Sunday after being shot late Saturday night while playing a doorbell-ringing prank, commonly known as “ding dong ditch,” in an east Houston neighborhood.

According to the Houston Police Department, the child and several friends approached a home just before 11 p.m. on Saturday, rang the doorbell, and ran away. A resident emerged and fired at the group, striking the boy in the back as he fled. Emergency responders transported him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead the following day.

Officers first detained an individual at the scene for questioning, then released that person after initial interviews. On Sunday evening, authorities took the same individual into custody again but have not yet filed formal charges. Homicide detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and coordinating with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether to pursue a murder indictment, as the shooting appears to have occurred away from the house and under circumstances that do not suggest self-defense.

Sgt. Michael Cass of the Houston homicide division told CBS News that witnesses saw the shooter exit the home and open fire on the children. “Sadly enough, one of the boys, who was 11 years old, was shot in the back,” Cass said. “We are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information to contact our department”.

“Ding dong ditch” pranks have long been regarded as harmless childhood antics, but similar incidents in recent years have proven deadly. In 2023, a Southern California man was convicted of murder after intentionally ramming his car into three teenagers following a doorbell prank, killing all of them. Earlier this year in Virginia, a man faced second-degree murder charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old who was recording such a prank for social media.

Houston police and community leaders are urging parents to warn children of the serious risks involved in these seemingly innocuous challenges. Authorities emphasize that what may appear to be a harmless joke can quickly escalate, leading to life-altering consequences.