11-year-old boy allegedly shot and killed by Texas homeowner while playing ‘ding dong ditch’

An 11-year-old Texas boy was shot and killed Saturday night after a game of “ding, dong, ditch” turned deadly, according to authorities.

The child was playing the doorbell prank with a group of friends around 11 p.m. when he was gunned down on Racine Street in Houston after knocking on a door and running away, the Houston Police Department said in a statement.

The boy sustained “a couple of gunshot wounds” and was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, Lt. Amber Khan of the Houston Police Department told KHOU 11 at the scene.

The young boy later died of his injuries, police said in an update Sunday.

One person was detained for questioning by cops following the shooting but has since been released, police said.

Houston police are currently executing a search warrant as part of the investigation, KHOU 11 reported.

The prank — which involves ringing a doorbell and fleeing the scene to mess with homeowners — has surged in popularity on TikTok and has led to other tragic incidents across the country in recent years.

In May, a Virginia homeowner allegedly shot and killed a high school athlete after the teenager and two pals banged on the shooter’s door while playing “ding dong ditch.” 

In July 2024, a teen was shot and wounded after a group of pals pulled the same prank on a gun-toting Maine homeowner before dawn.

The latest incident in Texas remains under investigation, and the identity of the 11-year-old is pending verification, cops added.