NEED TO KNOW
- An 11-year-old boy has died after being shot at while playing “ding-dong-ditch” in Houston, Texas, officials have confirmed
- The shooting took place at around 10.55 p.m. on Saturday, Aug 30 with the child being pronounced dead the following day
- “Ding-dong-ditch” involves ringing the doorbell on a property and running away before the door is answered
An 11-year-old boy has died after being shot at while playing a common childhood prank in Houston, officials have said.
The child was with friends and playing “ding-dong-ditch,” which is a game that revolves around ringing a doorbell and then running away before someone answers the door, PEOPLE previously reported.
The fatal shooting occurred in Houston around 10:55 p.m. local time on Saturday, Aug. 30, per a City of Houston news release. The boy was pronounced deceased by doctors the following day, on Sunday, Aug. 31, police said.
“Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a juvenile male in the 9700 block of Racine Street,” the post stated, adding that the identity of the victim “is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.”
Houston Police Department’s (HPD) Homicide Division Sergeant M. Cass and Detective J. Brown said, per the release, that officers “were told the male was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away.”
“A witness stated the male was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound,” the release added.
The post noted, “Officers detained one person at the scene for questioning. That individual was questioned and released. Detectives are gathering more information as the investigation continues.”
Resident Theresa Jones called the incident “really sad,” and said that guns shouldn’t be around kids, insisting “a bullet doesn’t have a name,” per Click2Houston.
Police have not yet released the shooter’s identity or discussed details of any potential charges.
The HPD and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
The latest “ding-dong-ditch” incident comes after a Texas man fired shots at teenagers playing the prank on the evening of July 28 on Scottsdale Way in Frisco, the Frisco Police Department said in a press release last month.
During their investigation, police learned the suspect, Damon Wolfe, 58, left his home after hearing a loud bang on his door. He fired multiple rounds at a passing car because he thought the occupants were involved, police said.
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The Frisco Police Department arrested Wolfe on Aug. 7 on three counts of aggravated assault, one count for each person in the vehicle. The charges carry a potential sentence between two and 20 years in prison, and a $10,000 fine, police said.
“Parents please talk to your kids about the dangers of participating in these types of Tik Tok challenges,” Frisco Police Chief David Shilson warned in the Aug. 18 release.
The officer added, “The teens involved in this case are very fortunate they were not shot and killed or seriously injured. For homeowners, it is important to understand that there are legal and criminal consequences for running outside and shooting at a vehicle fleeing the scene.”
“The bullets fired in this offense could have easily struck neighbors’ houses and had deadly consequences. This entire incident is completely senseless and avoidable had better decisions been made by all involved,” Shilson concluded.
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