Boy, 11, shot dead by neighbour in horror door-knocking prank gone wrong

Texas boy died after playing a door-knocking prank on his neighbor who opened fire on him. (Image: KHOU )

An 11-year-old boy was fatally shot after playing a door-knocking prank on his neighbour. The boy, from Texas, US, died after being shot at by someone who lives nearby when playing ‘ding-dong-ditch’ – also known as "knock down ginger" with his friends. The game is played by knocking on someone’s door or ringing their bell and then running away before they open it. Police in Houston said the incident happened at 11pm on Saturday.

While the children were playing the prank, one neighbour came out of their home and began shooting towards the group of friends as they ran away, local TV station KHOU reports. The boy, who was hit in the back, was taken to a nearby hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, yet was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon. 

The boy, 11 died on Sunday afternoon. (Image: -)

ABC News reports that the alleged shooter has been detained after police used a bullhorn and urged him to come out of his house with his hands up. 

Authorities confirmed that he was taken for questioning, and was not arrested. Officers were seen dropping the alleged shooter back off at his home around 6am on Sunday. 

Houston Police Department Sgt. Michael Cass explained that the shooting does not appear to support a self-defence claim. He and his department are now working with the Harris County District Attorney's Office on bringing possible charges against the alleged shooter. 

“In my opinion, it does not look like any type of self-defense,” Sgt. Cass told KHOU. “It wasn't close to the house, so it'll more than likely be a murder charge.”

Local officers continue to review surveillance footage from the incident, and are asking neighbours for any additional footage.

The shooter was taken for questioning. (Image: -)

Residents told local media that they have been left shocked by the shooting of the 11-year-old boy.

One unnamed neighbour told KHOU: “What harm could they have done? Playing with a doorbell? That's the part that really kind of hurts the heart.

“For someone to shoot him in the back, they knew they were a kid. What's the purpose of it?”

However, another neighbour said: “You just don't go knocking on people's doors.”

Sgt. Cass has now issued a warning to parents, urging them to “just be more cautious of the times we're living in now.”