An 11-year-old boy in Houston, Texas, was shot and killed Saturday night while playing the doorbell prank known as “ding, dong, ditch,” according to police, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The Houston Police Department said the child had been with a group of friends around 11 p.m. when they knocked on a door and ran away on Racine Street. The homeowner allegedly opened fire, striking the boy with multiple rounds.
⚠️ WARNING: This post contains descriptions of a child’s murder.
An 11-year-old boy has been shot & killed in Houston, Texas, after a game of “ding, dong, ditch” turned deadly.
The boy was playing the doorbell prank with a group of friends on Saturday night. After they rang the… pic.twitter.com/fSz2dY17a8 [2]
— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) September 1, 2025 [3]
“He sustained a couple of gunshot wounds,” Lt. Amber Khan of the Houston Police Department told KHOU 11 at the scene. The child was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later died of his injuries, police confirmed Sunday.
Authorities detained one person for questioning following the shooting, but the individual has since been released. Police said they are still investigating and executing a search warrant connected to the case.
The prank, which involves ringing a doorbell and running off to surprise or annoy homeowners, has seen a rise in popularity on TikTok. The trend has been linked to several other shootings across the country in recent years.
SAT-PRANK GONE WRONG 🪦- An 11-year-old boy was shot in the back and killed Saturday night while playing the prank known as “ding-dong ditch.” The incident happened at a home on the 9700 block of Mimbrough. pic.twitter.com/Fi1O9uPG1Q [4]
— Volie Wisland (@VolieW) September 1, 2025 [5]
In May, a Virginia homeowner allegedly shot and killed a high school athlete after the teenager and two others banged on the door while playing the prank.
In July 2024, a teen in Maine was shot and wounded after a group of friends pulled the same stunt before dawn, prompting another armed homeowner to fire.
The identity of the boy killed in Houston has not yet been released as investigators work to notify relatives. Police said the case remains open, and further details will be provided as the investigation continues.
Local officials urged parents to be aware of the risks associated with pranks that involve strangers’ homes. While the game has been a part of neighborhood mischief for generations, recent incidents show that encounters with armed homeowners can quickly escalate into tragedy.
The Houston Police Department has not announced whether charges will be filed in the case but confirmed that detectives are reviewing evidence collected from the scene.