Overview
- Michael Bosworth Jr., an 18-year-old high school senior, was fatally shot on May 3 during a late-night ding-dong-ditch prank in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
- Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and firearm-related offenses.
- Butler claims he believed the teens were attempting a home invasion, while surviving teens assert they were filming a TikTok prank and posed no threat.
- Virginia's castle doctrine, which permits homeowners to use deadly force in certain circumstances, is central to the legal debate surrounding the case.
- Bosworth, a multi-sport athlete set to attend prom the day of the shooting, has been mourned by his community, with classmates holding a vigil in his honor.