As teens, so many of us pulled silly pranks on those around us in an attempt at entertaining ourselves. That’s only risen in popularity with the advent of social media. Now, pranks for likes and views are the norm. Unfortunately, a seemingly harmless prank turned deadly for three Virginia teens.
When the teens turned up at the home of Tyler Chase Butler, they thought they would carry out their prank and move on. But Butler didn’t know what was happening. Fearing a home invasion, he shot at the teens as they ran. And now, one of them is dead.
Around 3 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a robbery in progress. They were also informed that the resident had a gun and shots were fired, the office said in a press release. When they arrived at the home, two of the teens had sustained gunshot wounds, while the third was unharmed.
Michael Bosworth Jr., 18, was taken to the hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries and died. The second teen who was shot was treated for his minor injuries and sent home. The two teens who survived have not been named because they’re under 18.
NBC Washington reported that Tyler Chase Butler told police he believed the teens were trying to break into his home. However, when the police spoke with the teen who was injured and survived, they said they were playing ding-dong-ditch — ringing doorbells and running away. They were filming themselves for TikTok.
Detectives found the third teen, who wasn’t shot. That teen backed up the others’ claims, saying they had videos on their phone to prove it.
FOX 5 DC spoke with Butler’s neighbors, who said they heard up to eight shots that night. They also claimed that the teens tried breaking into other homes that night.
“I’m sorry the kid did that,” Shawn Morrell told FOX 5. “I wish he hadn’t done what he did because he had to pay the ultimate price. Nobody likes that. Nobody. Not even the homeowner but it’s very unfortunate.”
Bostworth was only weeks away from graduating from Massaponax High School. He was shot and killed the same day as his senior prom.
Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail.
