HOUSTON – A 10-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot late Saturday night while playing a prank known as “ding-dong ditch” at a home in the 9700 block of Mimbrough in Houston’s Eastside, police said.
The prank, sometimes called “doorbell ditch,” is game where someone runs up to a house, rings the doorbell or knocks on the door, then runs off before anyone answers.
The game has been circulated widely on social media in recent years and has raised safety concerns among parents and community leaders.
Investigators said the children were attempting to ding doing ditched a home in Houston’s eastside, when someone inside the home came outside and shot the boy, police said.
The child was struck multiple times and was taken to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Neighbors we spoke with said they were shocked to hear the young boy had been shot.
“The thought of that is sad. It’s really sad, you know I think, we shouldn’t have guns around kid’s period. Because a bullet doesn’t have a name,” said Theresa Jones who lives nearby.
Officers were seen taking a man in handcuffs out of a police unit and walking him back to the home where the shooting happened. Police have not released the shooter’s name or said whether any charges have been filed, a police spokesperson said. The investigation is ongoing.
“At this time, prayers are going out to the family of the child. That’s been shot,” said an officer with HPD’ major assault division.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Houston Police Department.
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