HOUSTON — An 11-year-old boy is dead after police say he was shot during a “ding-dong-ditch” prank in east Houston late Saturday night.

The shooting happened around 11 p.m. near Mimbrough and Fidelity streets, just east of the East Loop.

Houston police said the boy and a group of kids had been ringing doorbells in the neighborhood when they knocked at one home. That’s when, according to witnesses, someone came out of the house and started shooting at the children as they ran away.

“A witness says someone ran out of that house and was shooting at the kids running down the street, and unfortunately, sadly enough, one of the boys who was 11 years old was shot in the back,” said HPD Homicide Detective Sgt. Michael Cass.

The boy was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and later died Sunday afternoon.

Police said a man was detained at the home where the shooting happened. He has not been arrested but was being questioned by homicide detectives Sunday.

While executing a search warrant at the house, investigators collected several rifles and handguns as evidence.

When asked about potential charges, Sgt. Cass said the circumstances don’t appear to support a self-defense claim.

“In my opinion, it does not look like any type of self-defense. It wasn’t close to the house, so it’ll more than likely be a murder charge,” Cass said.

Neighbors said they’re devastated over the boy’s death and stunned that a child lost his life over what they considered a harmless prank.

“What harm could they have done? Playing with a doorbell? That’s the part that really kind of hurts the heart,” one neighbor told KHOU 11. “For someone to shoot him in the back, they knew they were a kid. What’s the purpose of it?”

Others shared a safety reminder for parents and children.

“You just don’t go knocking on people’s doors,” one neighbor said.

“I guess for parents out there, just be more cautious of the times we’re living in now,” Cass added.

Police said they are working with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office on possible charges. Detectives are also reviewing surveillance video and asking neighbors for any additional footage.

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