Virginia homeowner reveals why he shot dead a teenage boy playing 'innocent' doorbell prank

The Virginia homeowner who opened occurrence connected a teenage lad playing a prank connected his doorstep says helium thought the lad was trying to interruption into his location - truthful helium opened fire. 

Michael Alan Bosworth Jr., 18, was killed erstwhile the 'ding dong ditch' prank took a convulsive crook connected May 3. 

He had knocked connected the doorway of Tyler Chase Butler, 27, successful the aboriginal hours of the morning.

Butler told constabulary helium thought the youngster was trying to burglarize him - truthful helium opened occurrence to support himself and his property. 

The calamity occurred successful the agrarian municipality of Fredricksburg, Virginia, 58 miles northbound of Richmond, the authorities capital, conscionable hours earlier Bosworth was to be the schoolhouse prom aboriginal the aforesaid time with his woman of 3 years.

Butler allegedly opened occurrence aft the 3 friends performed the societal media stunt astatine his home.

Bosworth was rushed to infirmary but died from his injuries. One of the different 2 friends was besides allegedly grazed by a slug fired by Butler but survived.

A May 6 connection by Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said Butler was arrested for 2nd grade murder, malicious wounding and 2 counts of usage of a firearm successful the committee of a felony. 

He is being held astatine Rappahannock Regional Jail with nary bond. 

According to NBC News4 Washington, Butler told told detectives helium feared the teens were trying to interruption into his home.

A hunt warrant affidavit reportedly obtained by NBC News, 1 of the surviving teens told detectives that the friends were signaling ding-dong ditch pranks for a TikTok video, which involves ringing doorbells past moving away.

The teen explained that they had already been to a mates of homes successful the vicinity and that helium was not acquainted with the area.

Sports instrumentality Bosworth, a pupil astatine Massaponax High School, reportedly played lacrosse and shot and was besides connected the wrestling team.

The sheriff's bureau besides revealed that deputies initially responded to reports of a burglary successful advancement connected McKenzie Lane 'where a nonmigratory had fired shots'.

His devastated woman Malinda Garcia, a cheerleader astatine the aforesaid school, paid tribute to the slain teen arsenic she attended prom without him.

She wore Bosworth's bow necktie connected her wrist to the event, saying helium was 'by her side' successful spirit.

'Nothing tin explicate the mode I consciousness close now,' the teen wrote connected her Instagram relationship connected Sunday arsenic she shared a bid of photographs from prom and of Bosworth.

'I americium astatine a nonaccomplishment of words and conscionable can’t judge this is adjacent real. I consciousness similar I’m surviving successful my worst nightmare and volition aftermath up from a dream.

'But this is my reality, you volition ever beryllium cherished successful my bosom forever.

'You person been specified an astonishing boyfriend, these past 3 years person been my champion days of surviving arsenic adjacent though sometimes mundane isn’t casual we ever pushed through.

'You were specified an astonishing idiosyncratic and truthful galore radical emotion you and miss you. This is not just and you did not merit this astatine all.

'You enactment everlastingly successful my bosom and my emotion for you volition ne'er spell away. You were the champion boyfriend, person, brother, son, and person that anyone could inquire for.'

The lad who was grazed by a slug said videos connected the teenagers' phones beryllium that they were playing a game, not attempting to interruption successful to Butler's home.

He said they were not acquainted with the vicinity and were attempting to fly erstwhile shots were fired.

Video posted connected societal media showed Bosworth's friends releasing achromatic and bluish balloons connected the sports tract successful his representation connected Tuesday.

The online memorial adds helium is survived by his mother, Rebekah Webb, stepdad Joshua, begetter Michael Bosworth, Sr.; sister, Isabell Bosworth and brothers Jason Bosworth and Liam Webb, arsenic good arsenic different adjacent household members.

One affectional connection of condolence connected the tract read: ‘It volition everlastingly beryllium agelong unrecorded you my boy. You didn’t merit this astatine all. Justice volition beryllium served!!!! I anticipation you are dancing successful the entity Michael, we volition support you successful our hearts ever and forever. Rest casual Bos.’

Another said of Bosworth, 'he could ever marque maine laugh.' 

The household volition ‘receive friends’ astatine a section chapel connected May 20 and a 'celebration of life' is scheduled for the pursuing day.