Posted on 05/07/2025 6:56:18 AM PDT by thegagline
A Virginia homeowner allegedly shot and killed a three-sport high school athlete after the teenager and two pals banged on the shooter’s door while playing “ding dong ditch” early Saturday, authorities said.
Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was charged Tuesday with killing 18-year-old high school senior Michael Bosworth Jr. and injuring one of his friends during what police initially reported was an attempted burglary on a residential block in Fredericksburg around 3 a.m., the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said.
Butler claimed to detectives that a trio of teens were trying to break into his house, but the wounded teenager insisted they were only recording a prank that would later be shared on TikTok, according to police documents obtained by local outlets.
The boy, who suffered a graze wound, said the group was looking for a place to hide when a series of gunshots went off, the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star reported.
The third teen, who was not harmed, also reportedly told police they were playing “ding dong ditch” – which involves knocking or ringing a front door and then making a run for it, NBC 4 Washington reported.
Bosworth was a Massaponax High School senior who played lacrosse and football and was also on the wrestling team, his stepfather told NBC 4 Washington.
The victim was gunned down the same day as his high school prom — which was scheduled later that evening.
Butler is facing charges of second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, the sheriff’s office said.
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(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
You would think a high school senior would know better than to go banging on the door of a stranger at any hour, let alone the “ungodly” hour of 3am. It’s likely these youths had been drinking, meaning they were driving around half crocked. Everyone loses in such situations.
Joe Biden’s advice would have been to shoot that door banger right through your front door.
Because cops are part of a government that does not want you to be able to protect yourself. The shooter wasn’t going anywhere. Cops needed to gather evidence which would be testimony, photos, gsr swabs, and the weapon. They could have waited for prosecutors to decide on arrest but cops are at best reluctant servants of evil masters and at worst gleeful tyrants.
Another dead thug.
And future Mensa candidate.
i think a question from the prosecutor would be
if you were in fear of your life
why did you open the door?
VA law uses the odd term “curtilage” in its definition of your home. This is taken to mean even the driveway, but it would certainly include someone’s doorstep.
LoL
Va does not have a castle doctrine but law states you can use deadly force to protect you in your home.
Dude called 911 saying someone was attempting to break in Before he fired shots. These were residences. If he had a family it is reasonable to protect them. I don’t blame him one bit. Very tragic but the kids fault
The kid killed was white. The homeowner black
One less thug to incarcerate.
Stupid game, deadly prize for one, prison life for the other.
Oh, well then, he's got nothing to worry about. /s
AGREE
“I dont know Va law, but I believe Va castle doctrine says the perp must have entered your home.”
If you don’t know the law, then don’t post what you believe the law is.
Well played!
There was an old wives' tale that claimed you had to kill intruders inside the house and not let them fall dead outside; that is not the case in the majority of states. Castle laws in most states include the property around your house. Locally, teenagers like to wander into other people's property looking for unlocked vehicles and shed doors. Cops and residents have been warning them for months this is a heavily armed county and it is only a matter of time before someone feels threatened and shoots a teenager. The teenager could be dead, but the homeowner will not be arrested.
Seriously? Were you offended in some way, or you just feel like being an ass this morning?
“Va does not have a castle doctrine but law states you can use deadly force to protect you in your home.”
Law says you can use deadly force to protect yourself inside or outside your home.
“Seriously? Were you offended in some way, or you just feel like being an ass this morning?”
Just noting that your post was not factual.
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