Texas boy, 11, shot dead after doorbell prank in Houston

An 11-year-old boy has been shot dead in Texas after playing a doorbell prank with his friends.

The group was playing ding dong ditch, a game that involves ringing the doorbell of strangers’ houses and then running away.

As they struck several houses in Houston’s Eastside neighbourhood on August 30, the boy was shot in the back while “ditching” from one house, according to the Guardian.

He was taken to hospital late in the evening but ultimately died from his wounds on Sunday afternoon.

Houston’s Homicide Division has not charged anyone for the killing, but, in a statement, investigating officers Sergeant M. Cass and Detective J. Brown said one person had been detained.

“That individual was questioned and released. Detectives are gathering more information as the investigation continues.”

Cass told KHOU 11 a witness reported someone had run out of the house and shot at the children.

Several weapons were confiscated from the property, including rifles and handguns.

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

An 18-year-old Virginia boy was killed earlier this year for a similar prank.

A friend of the victim said they had been playing ding dong ditch when he was killed, the New York Post reported.