11-year-old fatally shot after 'doorbell ditch,' officials say
Share and Follow

An 11-year-old boy was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday after, Houston city officials say, he was shot while he was running from a home after having rung its doorbell Saturday night.

The boy had been ringing doorbells in the area and running as part of a game known as “doorbell ditch,” the city said in a statement.

“A witness stated the male was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound,” it said.

Officers responding to the shooting on the 9700 block of Racine Street released a person who had been detained for questioning, the city said.

The shooting was reported about an hour before midnight, and the boy was rushed to a hospital, where medical staff members declared him dead Sunday, the city said.

NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston indicated that more than one child was playing the game and that the shooting victim was initially hospitalized in critical condition.

“We shouldn’t have guns around kids, period. Because a bullet doesn’t have a name,” neighbor Theresa Jones told the station.

In spring, an 18-year-old man in Virginia was fatally shot as he and other teens participated in ding-dong ditch pranks being recorded for TikTok videos, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said in May. The homeowner, who was arrested, said he believed a break-in was underway at his residence.

In California, a 45-year-old man who ran down a group of ding-dong ditch pranksters as both were in vehicles, killing three teenagers, was sentenced in 2023 to life in prison.

The investigation into the Houston shooting continues, the city said.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
California university students' third attempt to form TPUSA chapter denied

California University Students Face Third Rejection in Bid to Establish TPUSA Chapter

Efforts by students at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego to…
Paris Jackson defends sharing graphic photo of her perforated septum from years of drug abuse

Paris Jackson Opens Up: The Untold Story Behind Her Battle with Drug Abuse and Septum Damage

Paris Jackson has openly addressed her past struggles with substance abuse by…
Coen: Too early to decide Travis Hunter's future as a two-way player

Coen Weighs In: The Future of Travis Hunter as a Dual-Position Star Remains Uncertain

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen, expressed the team’s intention to review…
Repeat offender robbing bank

Sheriff Raises Concerns Over California’s Mental Health Legislation, Citing Impact on Release of Offenders

A legislative measure in California, intended to assist those with mental health…
US Catholic bishops select conservative culture warrior OC Archbishop Paul Coakley to lead them during Trump's second term

Archbishop Paul Coakley Chosen to Lead US Catholic Bishops Amidst Conservative Resurgence in Trump’s Second Term

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has chosen Archbishop Paul Coakley of…
Britney Spears shares another unhinged post

Britney Spears’ Latest Instagram Post Sparks Buzz: Unfiltered and Unmissable!

Britney Spears has disclosed that she has been “stuck in Mexico” for…
Trump says he's ending trade talks with Canada over TV ads

House Democrats Unveil Epstein Emails Alleging Ties to Donald Trump: Impact on Political Landscape

Emails referencing Donald Trump from Jeffrey Epstein’s correspondence have been made public…
Trump pardons athlete facing charges for 'illegal' shortcut during run

Trump’s Controversial Pardon: Athlete Cleared of Charges for ‘Illegal’ Race Shortcut

In an unexpected turn of events, former President Donald Trump has granted…