A 27-year-old man in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting at a group of teens playing a TikTok prank, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old high school senior.
On the early morning of May 3, 2025, at approximately 3 a.m., Tyler Chase Butler allegedly opened fire on three teenagers who were engaged in a Ding-Dong-Ditch prank—ringing doorbells and running away—an activity they were documenting for a TikTok video.
The shooting took place in the 2700 block of McKenzie Lane, Spotsylvania County. One of the teens, 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr., a senior at Massaponax High School, was fatally shot and later died at the hospital. Another teen was grazed by a bullet and sustained minor injuries, while the third teen was unharmed.
Butler faces serious charges, including second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and additional weapons-related offenses, as announced by the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office on May 6, 2025, following his arrest. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities obtaining a search warrant to review video evidence from the teens’ cellphones, seeking recordings, photographs, or communications related to the prank.
Reports suggest that Butler may have mistaken the teens for burglars. Initial statements from the sheriff’s office indicated that the resident confronted individuals he believed were attempting to break into his home from the back. However, the teens insisted they were merely playing a prank and were fleeing after ringing the doorbell. The timing, at 3 a.m., likely heightened the threat perception.
The prank, Ding-Dong-Ditch, has surged in popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. A page titled “The Ding Dong Ditch Challenge” features numerous videos with thousands of views, showcasing the trend’s widespread appeal—and its inherent risks.
The death of Michael Bosworth Jr., a well-known football and lacrosse player at Massaponax High School, has deeply shaken the school community. Principal William Lancaster III informed students and staff of the tragedy, offering mental health support and making additional counseling available starting Monday, as Spotsylvania Schools outlined.
This tragic event highlights the potential dangers of participating in social media trends, particularly those involving interactions with strangers’ properties late at night. It also raises complex questions about self-defense claims and the legal responsibilities of homeowners in such situations.
The Spotsylvania County community mourns the loss of a promising young student, while authorities work to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this devastating incident.
