Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Virginia Homeowner Faces Murder Charges in TikTok Prank Shooting

Tyler Chase Butler remains jailed without bond as investigators scrutinize his claim of self-defense under Virginia's castle doctrine.

Michael Bosworth Jr. and his girlfriend, Malinda Garcia, pose on the Massaponax High School track after a football game in 2024. (Courtesy of Malinda Garcia)
A file photo of a Virginia state police car at the scene of a crime.
Image
Image

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.