Have you ever heard of the DOOR KICK CHALLENGE?

[Oopsie Daisy]

Was the "ding-dong" kid actually a "door-kick-challenge" kid? Or was he just ringing and running away as we used to do when I was a kid? What more is there to know?

?si=K0JqGoPq0Syhzakt

?si=q00rMj9jz5U359sd

[uncle ray]

1. just askin' questions, huh?

[Oopsie Daisy]

5. Do you have more information to share?

Or are passive aggressive insinuations the only thing on the menu today?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

91. Par for the course.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. you're right -- being as afraid as possible is the key point here

[Rebl2]

3. Good

way to get yourself shot. Actually think it happened last week, but don’t remember where.

[RubyRose]

29. It did. 11 year old kid.

[Rebl2]

57. That's

what I remember reading.

[Heidi]

4. I suspect that the police would have noticed a kicked-in door

Last edited Wed Sep 3, 2025, 10:09 AM - Edit history (1)

and I imagine the shooter would have reported such an imminent threat when police took his statement. In any event, it seems that the home occupant was lying in wait for those kids to return and shot the child in the back when he had already fled 20 yards from the house and was no longer an immediate threat.

[Oopsie Daisy]

6. I imagine so too... but would it have been part of the report? Would reporters have included it in their stories?

Kicked and "kicked-in" are different... but hopefully if there was evidence of ANY type of aggressive and threatening kicking rather than just a "ring-and-run" prank it will show up. If it's the former, I imagine that surging adrenaline and the rush of the fight instinct will affect one's ability to think clearly. It seems unlikely that silly "ring-and-run" pranks would result in the kind of fear (rage?) that resulted in his tragic death. But it all remains to be seen.

Thankfully we have a doorbell cam along with a dozen other outdoor cams that will alert us if/when someone approaches... or that can document what happens/ed.

[Heidi]

10. Yes, we have no choice but to wait and see.

But I can assure you, the defense would not want me on a jury. This by all reports was a fleeing 11-year-old *child* who had already gotten 20 yards away and was no longer a threat. It would take a *lot* of physical evidence to convince me otherwise.

[JustAnotherGen]

115. The asshole

Was laying in wait in the bushes. He had the opportunity to go outside and lay in wait for when they returned. He also had the chance while hiding and watching to see they were little kids.

Instead of calling the police or marching them back to their parents he opted to take chase and shoot a little kid in the back.

By the time the defense is done that little guy will be turned into a high ranking leader of the Latin Kings who asserts dominance by doing tik tok challenges.

[Heidi]

116. And

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, hasn’t the defendant suffered enough?”

[JustAnotherGen]

117. He was sooooo

Scared. He was a fraidy cat.

[Heidi]

119. Bless his heart.

[LearnedHand]

7. So, kicking the door justifies murder?

[Oopsie Daisy]

9. Oh please. Did I say that? GMAFB!

But it goes a long way to explaining the mindset of someone who has been (or is being) terrorized and tormented. Fear and anger and rage and adrenaline are not conducive to deliberate and meditative and rational thinking. Wouldn't you agree?

[LearnedHand]

13. Given these video episodes have nothing to do with the actual murder

I was trying to understand why you posted them. And even if this was a factor, there are solutions without murder. Are we to be less horrified if it was a door kick incident? My door actually was kicked in when my house was robbed. I secured my door better and didn’t buy or take a gun, even though my entire gun-loving family pressured me to. Am I stupid for that? Do you understand the mindset that looks for alternatives that don’t end in death?

[Oopsie Daisy]

21. I doubt that genuine "understanding" was at the apex of the motivation for that post *

* and it was more of an opportunistic way for someone to take cheap shots at me. In fact, the very last question asked of me (above) is a rather backhanded way of insinuating that such a simple concept is beyond my ability to comprehend. Sigh. Oh well... bye.

[BannonsLiver]

90. Justified? Definitely not.

Does the activity put the door knocker at enhanced risk for getting shot? Absolutely.

The obvious conclusion is it’s probably a bad idea. Especially in a country with 400 million guns floating around the general population.

[joanbarnes]

8. We had one attack in Missouri, 3 years ago.

Rather old outer screen door glass insert held but frame was bent. Luckily we still could order a new frame for about $80. Glass could have shattered and severed kicker's femoral artery with fatal result.

[LeftinOH]

11. Yep- just days after getting my new screen door installed, a bunch of youths were

going up to front doors and kicking in the screen door panels at houses along my street. I wouldn't have sh*t anyone, but the vandalism costs money to repair, and it's usually not enough for insurance to cover it. This was about 10 years ago.

If I had done such a thing as a kid -and my folks found out about it- I would have been skinned alive, then forced to pay repairs.

[Heidi]

16. That's reasonable: "I wouldn't have shot anyone."

If I had done that as a kid, I would have been in the same boat as you plus without privileges AND on the prayer list of every evangelical church in the Upland South. But I would have been *alive* to tell the tale.

[yardwork]

12. Yes, kids in our neighborhood do it.

It's a variation of ringing the doorbell and running away. Which we also have.

It's annoying and can be frightening, but doesn't justify chasing a little kid and shooting him in the back.

It takes a village to raise kids. When I was a child we used to prank phone call people at random. One day an older woman shamed me by saying there was sickness in their house. I never did it again.

I wonder how things might have turned out if the man in the house had opened the door and talked to the kid. Even yelling at him would have been preferable to, you know, shooting him in the back.

Kids do dumb things because they're kids. As adults we're supposed to guide and correct them, not let our lizard brains take over.

[Heidi]

14. Thank you!

A million times—thank you for your (as usual) reasoned and compassionate take, yardwork. Rec!

[yardwork]

15. Well, thank YOU!

I am touched.

[Oopsie Daisy]

17. True. But a bit more idealistic than realistic.

It may "take a village" but it starts with parenting, without a good foundation to build on, what a village can accomplish is limited. It seems reasonable to guess that the parenting (or lack thereof) would also be one of those "you can't tell MY child what to do" type of people... or the "we negotiate with our children and let them make their own decisions" type of parenting philosophy.

I think it also seems unrealistic that the child would have responded positively (or even heard him) if the man had given him a stern talking-to as he was running away. My best guess is that yelling would have only been essentially to reward the kid with type of reaction he was seeking.

What a tragic ending. Maybe new will spread and parents will pay closer attention to what their free-range children are doing... and who they hang with. Or the "kids" will become aware that this type of aggressive and threatening behavior comes with great risk.

Let's hope that something positive comes from it all.

[yardwork]

20. Childhood pranks are very common in every generation.

I haven't seen any evidence that this eleven year old child's parents were neglectful. It's summer, days are long, kids do dumb things.

I don't assume that this child was any more immune to being corrected by adults than I was. Unfortunately nobody will ever know.

Shooting a small child in the back as they run away is never justifiable, ever.

[Oopsie Daisy]

22. Based on what we do know... some reasonable conclusions can be arrived at.

Let's be realistic. Aggressive and repeated donkey-kicking of someone's door is really not comparable to ring-and-run pranks of my generation. The latter is a silly annoyance, the former is perceived as a legitimate threat or a precursor to an actual intruder. Not excusing... just pointing out the difference.

No one said he was "immune" to being corrected, only that he clearly had NOT been in his home life and that the opportunity to "correct him" (by the homeowner while the act was taking place) seems to be an unrealistic expectation. That's all I'm trying to say.

[indusurb]

25. He didn't "donkey kick" the door

Apparently there is video of him just ringing the doorbell. See the link in post 18

[Oopsie Daisy]

35. Gotcha.

Tnx

[senseandsensibility]

37. I agree

I was just thinking of the seventies when I was a kid (elementary school age). Not only did we do prank calls, but it was common to "TP" houses, which involved wrapping toilet paper around all the trees and anything else not tied down on the property. Then there was "egging" houses, which I guess is self explanatory. I never participated in the TPing or the egging, but it was pretty common, and pretty much tolerated. It certainly didn't cause anyone to shoot the perpetuators. For some reason, I never heard of ding dong ditch back then, but it sounds relatively mild in comparison.

[LeftInTX]

48. I think simply being aware of this dockey kick prank can prevent kids from being shot.

About a month ago, we did hear a weird sound at our front door. We went to look and no one was there.

Hubby chalked it up to a cat chasing bugs....(naa...)

Maybe it was pranksters?

Anytime one hears noises like that, they think home invasion, so it's helpful to know that there can be other sources.

_____________

This is independent of the shooting the other night. But the shooting does bring to light other pranks. I had not been aware of the donkey kick prank until this thread.

[indusurb]

24. You're assuming a lot about this child's parents and upbringing, why?

You have no clue as to this child's home life, none, so why make such assumptions.

Look, was the kid young and dumb, doing the young and dumb things all kids, including you and I, do. Yes. As a parent you teach them, give them life lessons, and hope the kid remembers them and uses them to guide their behavior. But the frank truth of the matter is that a kid will, at some point, do something dumb. This is part of growing up, learning and exploring life. As a parent you just hope and pray that when that time comes your kid isn't seriously hurt or injured.

In the spectrum of dumb things kids do this is, normally rather benign. Sadly this man was not normal, and had a gun, and an innocent kid died.

It seems to me that throughout this thread you're trying to shift some, if not all, of the blame onto the kid. Why?

[NoRethugFriends]

26. No not all kids do these dumb things. Why do you assume that?

[indusurb]

28. Because I've raised kids taught kids, been around kids most of my life

And yes, they all do something dumb at some point. You may not see it, you may not hear about it, in fact if there were no negative repercussions you probably won't even know about it. It is part of the child's development and learning. It can be something fairly benign, sneaking out of the house, making a jump that's a little too high, etc. But all kids do it anyway. If a kid doesn't do things like that, their childhood is a bit dull, and they really don't learn the boundaries of their limitations.

[NoRethugFriends]

31. No, not all kids do it! Why would you think that?

I didn't do it.
My friends didn't.
My brother and his friends didn't.
My kids didn't. Not their friends.
My grandkids would be horrified at the thought.
It does have something to do with how you're raised, and taught to respect people.
It sounds like that "boys will be boys" junk.

In case it's not clear, this is not to excuse the cretin who shot the kid.

[indusurb]

43. You and your family never did anything the slightest bit risky?

Never did anything to test your limits? Never risked life and/or limb on some stupid stunt?

I have trouble believing that, but if that is indeed the case, you and yours had a very dull childhood.

[NoRethugFriends]

45. I had a great childhood, as did my kids, and have my grandkids

Difference between testing limits and risk vs. things that are crappy to others.
And why would you think everything that isn't risky is dull? Kind of narrow viewpoint.

[Iris]

118. I did a lot of dumb things that my parents and grandparents and all their friends didn't witness

[NoRethugFriends]

149. You may scoff, but I know my kids and grandkids well enough to have a damn good idea.

Comes from talking to them and listening to them.
You build that relationship and it pays off.

[Torchlight]

155. My guess is many people will assert their experience as quite the opposite of yours.

while yet laying a silent claim to that very reality.

[indusurb]

18. This was no door kick challenge

"In a new interview with CBS News, police said Julian and a cousin rang the doorbell two times before, but it was the third time that led to the shooting"
snip
" Authorities said Julian was running down a sidewalk away from Leon's home when he was shot. KHOU 11 News learned that there's video that shows them ringing the doorbell and running away before the shots rang out."
https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/ding-dong-ditch-shooting-houston-texas-murder-charge/285-f3d7b4ea-0d55-4e95-9904-94fa9a852fe1

This was a man, filled with rage with poor impulse control. Apparently he first fired a warning shot into the ground. If that had been as far as it went, all would have been well. He might have been charged with illegally firing a gun, but given the circumstances I doubt it, especially in Texas. Instead he drew down and shot an innocent kid who was running away multiple times in the back. That's murder, plain and simple. There are no extenuating circumstances, just a man with a gun and a soul filled rage. Lock him up for the rest of his life.

[LeftInTX]

19. Dum things on TikTok.

And some are armed with paint ball guns.
I would think the kid with the paint ball gun could be putting himself in harm's way.

The kids who are violently kicking doors, could get themselves in trouble, But LE is often too busy to do anything about minor vandalism these days.

Well, if I hear kicking at my door, it may just be a group of kids. Not the smartest way to get your kicks. "Let's pretend we're home invaders". It's good that the media is informing the public, so some kid doesn't get shot. I noticed that two youths were arrested (They really didn't look particularly youthful either)



I don't think the poor kid was engaged in that type of behavior and he had left.
I wish the homeowner would have just come out and yelled, "Get off of my lawn!!"

[Oopsie Daisy]

23. Yes... that would have been preferable.

[Kaleva]

27. What difference would that make?

[Oopsie Daisy]

36. Annoyance vs fear might make a big difference in...

... how someone responds. Not defending, just explaining, Kaleva.

[Kaleva]

39. If one is afraid, then don't go to the door

Hunker down in the designated safe room and call 911.

[Oopsie Daisy]

49. Yes. That's right. And very easy advice to give from the safety of one's keyboard...

... not living in the terror of the moment. I offer this as an example for realistic reflection, not as an excuse for the homeowner's ambush. Hopefully other ding-dongers and kick-and-runners will think twice about the possible deadly consequences of harassing and tormenting homeowners.

[Kaleva]

53. What did the training program on home defense that you took teach you to do?

The purpose of training is so one can react decisively even in a highly stressful situation and not be overcome by fear and thus very greatly increasing the chance of making some very bad decisions.

[hunter]

96. If that sort of thing is someone's "terror of the moment" they really shouldn't own guns.

When I was a foolish young man some of the more terrifying moments of my life were surprise invasions of my personal space by the police.

Maybe you think I should have shot them?

Yeah, that would have made them "think twice."

[FullySupportDems]

30. He could have held them there at gunpoint

Because he waited outside for them to come back. He could have called 911. Seems like he just wanted to shoot them. The monster thought he'd get away with it, self defense? So nuts. You don't wait outside for them to come back with your gun cause you're scared.

[Kaleva]

41. You only point a gun at someone you intend to kill

We are not the police

[Melon]

99. That's not true. You can hold a gun on someone to hold them there

If they are a threat to you or your family. That of course can easily escalate, but you can absolutely hold a gun on someone you don’t intend to kill.

[Kaleva]

110. Legally one can do that.

The question is, should one do that though. If I’m aiming a gun at someone, it’s because it’s a situation where lethal force is justified. I, or someone else, is in imminent danger of being killed or seriously injured. If I’m not in a situation where lethal force is justified, then I’ll follow the basic rules of gun safety.

[FullySupportDems]

107. I suppose that's true. I think he wanted to shoot

All I can think is he didn't have to shoot him. Waiting outside was an ambush. Somehow in his twisted brain he felt justified.

[Kaleva]

111. Guns can give people false sense of empowerment

[FullySupportDems]

112. I think that must be true

Safe and easy lethality from a distance. We have too much of it around. There's something not sane about it.

[Kaleva]

120. A gun is a tool of last resort

People with a gun sometimes take actions that they wouldn’t if they weren’t armed. Actions that increase the risk of harm to themselves or other innocents. Proper training can minimize that.

[FullySupportDems]

147. I agree

[flvegan]

32. I didn't see any allegations that the "ding dong kid" was doing more than ringing and running.

Not sure why we're suddenly correlating the two here.

[yardwork]

125. It's very disappointing.

[NightWatcher]

33. If you kick in my door I will shoot.

Unless I hear the words "we've got a warrant" you're meeting hot lead.

Dont wanna die? Don't cross my threshold, even with your foot.

Sorry, but these are the times we live in. I dont know who is coming through. They could be a fake ICE goon squad coming for my family...

Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes.

[Oopsie Daisy]

38. People who have been terrorized in their own homes...

... Or who have dealt with unknown intruders, will know and understand that type of abject fear. -- The "stupid games" analogy some things up well, even if it's incorrectly perceived by others as being dismissive. Indeed, these are the times we live in. It's definitely a tragedy, but maybe some other dumb kids will hear about it and learn a lesson that will save their own lives someday. Time will tell, we can only hope.

[Ilikepurple]

85. The fact that it is only the kids that can learn a lesson from your viewpoint reveals volumes

This was never a thread about finding the truth of the matter. You haven’t been willing to hear the answer. You seem to think somehow the police and reporters are withholding exonerating information. I don’t know how any member of DU is going to answer your question if you aren’t satisfied with the public information. It seems that the thread is more about raw fear or anger ameliorating if not justifying homicide. That’s why the three videos hoping to prime us with a bit of fear annd anger before the discussion even started.
You said “Hopefully other ding-dongers and kick-and-runners will think twice about the possible deadly consequences of harassing and tormenting homeowners.” No mention of hopes that armed homeowners think twice about a possible murder conviction before shooting a 11 year old running from your home?

[Oopsie Daisy]

88. This is not about me. Nice try.

Anyone is free to "mention" whatever they feel is missing or propose ideas and theories that have not been covered to their personal satisfaction. It's a mistake to make ugly insinuations about others because they failed to, or neglected to, mirror someone else's opinions.

[Ilikepurple]

101. It's not about me, it's about satisfying my personal theories and ideas?

It’s okay if it’s about you. It’s your thread. You say it’s not about you, but your entire response to my post was about you. Like you, I am free to express ideas and theories I have. You’re the one who put your ideas and theories out there. What are we to do with them other than engage? Why the intellectual contortions to continue your narrative without engaging with either facts or views that don’t mirror your own? It’s so easy to engage others in discussion by going point by point or at least engaging some point.

[Oopsie Daisy]

114. What are you to do? You are certainly welcome to share your ideas... without making it personal.

Have a nice day.

[Kaleva]

42. Do you have a safe room?

Considering the times we live in, everyone should have one. And reinforced doors.

[Oopsie Daisy]

51. Safe room? That's a luxury for the 1%. As far as I'm concerned, my entire home is a "safe room"...

... if you get my meaning.

[Kaleva]

54. Where did you get your training from?

[Oopsie Daisy]

55. Why do you care? What difference does it make? That's your answer.

But I should probably let you know that asking someone the the same question again and again and again could be misinterpreted as bullying or harassment.

[Kaleva]

60. So we've established you have no training

You should make that clear in your OP.

One doesn’t need such training if they don’t own a gun or guns but it’s imperative that those who do get the training and then regularly practice that training.

[Oopsie Daisy]

65. This is not about me. And you are free to assume whatever you want, even if it's absurd.

>> You should make that clear in your OP.
I don't need to be told what I should do. This whole subthread is a distraction and irrelevant to my OP, tyvm.

>>One doesn’t need such training if they don’t own a gun or guns but it’s imperative that those who do get the training and then regularly practice that training.
But in spite of the fact that one may be free to do so, I think it's a mistake to make blanket assumptions and paint with such a broad brush when making backhanded insinuations and smearing someone that they have never met or know nothing about.

[Kaleva]

69. If you won't answer a simple question, all one can do is make assumptions

I’m just trying to find out what your expertise is on this issue.

Again, where did you get your training on the use of guns for home defense?

Considering how dangerous guns are and the undisputed fact that lack of training has lead to death or injury of innocents, it’s imperative that gun owners hold themselves to a high standard.

You are free to believe otherwise.

[Oopsie Daisy]

70. My answer is irrelevant. I know it's "important" to make this about me, but I'm not participating in that game.

This bizarre level of irrelevant "curiosity" (or prolonged assumption-making) reveals much. It's odd to me when anyone persistently starts asking things about me that are literally none of their business. It's also curious how someone would try to pretend that if I do not answer the intrusive questions to their satisfaction, then they would feel free to make the most negative assumptions in an effort to somehow "disqualify" me. Or, to be dismissive and to cast doubts on the validity of my answers, observations, experiences and... opinions. It's borderline harassment and bullying. Nice try. I'm not playing that game. Sorry. Bye, Kaleva.

[Kaleva]

121. You wrote the OP so this is about you.

You asked a question in your OP. A question you’d know the answer to if you had proper training.

[Oopsie Daisy]

122. Nonsense. The topic is the topic. I'm not the topic. 🤡🤣😂

Bye!

[Kaleva]

123. Your lack of training and knowledge is the topic

You’d know the answer to your question you asked in your OP if you had training.

[Oopsie Daisy]

126. Nope. Wrong again. Here is the text of my OP.

>> Have you ever heard of the DOOR KICK CHALLENGE? Was the "ding-dong" kid actually a "door-kick-challenge" kid? Or was he just ringing and running away as we used to do when I was a kid? What more is there to know?
Asking personal questions of me (that are literally none of anyone's business) has ZERO to do with content of my OP.

[Kaleva]

153. A dumb fuck with a gun would blame this entirely on the kids

A responsible and trained gun owner , knowing that kids are doing this stupid prank, would take steps to minimize a tragedy from happening.

Which camp do you support?

[JustAnotherGen]

86. I agree

Ding dong ditch was being played in our town two years ago. I had to intervene between an irate elderly woman and two little boys. You know what Marjorie (elderly woman did NOT do?). She didn't pull out a gun. I didn't either. Because we are sane level-headed adults. I explained to the little guys that she lives alone and doing that could be frightening. BTW - they had done it to me a few minutes earlier. So I explained that I had a reactive dog and it caused him to panic (we have a choo choo train doorbell).

One kid's parents knocked on our door after dinner, made him apologize again, and thanked me for intervening.

On the flip side - we've had threatening racist screeds dropped through our mail slot (front door) for severe years.

I get at least 40 of these in my Council email a month. Like - hang you and n-lover husband from the red maple. Nasty. Evil.

We have guns in our home. My husband is former Italian Special Forces (Tactical.sharp.shooter) and my dad was a Hunter/Green Beret/Survivalist. Killing and field dressing were survival basics - be it with a gun or a bow when i was growing up. My husband hunts wild boar in Calabria. I'm the President of a Black Woman's Gun and Survival Club.

If someone comes THROUGH our front door they are dead.

But a little kid kicking my door or ringing my door bell is not a reason to fire a gun. If you take the safety off a loaded gun your intent is to use it as intended: to kill.

This irrational fuck nut asshole ran after a little kid and shot him in the back.

I hope that man goes to jail for the rest of his life. He murdered that little kid.

Ding dong ditch is not a reason to kill someone.

Thank you for giving a gun owners perspective. There aren't a lot of us here.

[Kaleva]

150. I stopped training when I fell down the basement stairs and shattered my left shoulder

To this day my revolver lays empty in a locked gun box in the master bedroom closet while the ammo is in a locked, metal box down in the basement .

It’s going to remain that way until I decide to resume training.

[yardwork]

47. The child didn't kick or enter the door.

There are falsehoods being spread about this case, probably originating with people who don't want any controls on guns.

Let's not perpetuate the falsehoods here.

[Oopsie Daisy]

52. Time will tell.

>> Let's not perpetuate the falsehoods here.
And let's not insinuate that I'm "perpetuating falsehoods", please and thank you.

[yardwork]

58. I didn't insinuate anything.

I stated my opinion and asked that we on DU not perpetuate falsehoods.

The police report on this is clear. The children were ringing doorbells and running away. Not kicking the doors.

The man accused of murder allegedly hid in the dark outside the door, armed with one of his dozens of weapons, waiting for the children to return.

When they did he fired into the ground and when they ran away he shot the eleven year old in the back. This is what the police report says.

I'm sure his defense will raise all kinds of issues. Let's not help them.

[Oopsie Daisy]

61. Of course you didn't insinuate anything.

And neither did I.

[ornotna]

63. You did

And still are.

You couldn't be more transparent.

[Lifeafter70]

67. It looks like "time" has already told us what happened

The home owner knew it was just kids.
He waited outside with a gun for them to return and ring his bell and then chased them firing the gun into the ground first
He could have stopped at that and called the police but he didn't. He instead fired two more shots (that we know of) hitting the child in the back and killing him.
This was not fear but anger.

[Oopsie Daisy]

68. It's still very early in the investigation. I'll be interested in seeing the final report.

I'm sure he was angry... I would be angry too. Not angry enough to shoot a fleeing child.

I certainly hope that word of this tragedy spreads and parents start teaching their children better and watching where they go, when they go, and who they go with... as well as teaching them that sometimes there can be deadly consequences for their innocent pranks and tick-tock challenges. There's a lot of blame to go around for this tragic series of events.

[Lifeafter70]

71. You seem to want to blame everyone else for this

The police and witnesses have given the facts and you are continue to insinuate that there is more to this and maybe the homeowner was in fear. He was not. He was angry and laid in wait with a gun for the kids to return. That's premeditated and fueled by anger not fear. He was the adult and if he was truly fearful hw would have called the police instead he fired a gun at a fleeing child.

[Oopsie Daisy]

72. It's not about me. I'm just pointing out facts and giving my analysis of the likely tragic series of events.

There are many layers.

[Lifeafter70]

74. You are not pointing out facts.

You are creating a sinerrio that has nothing to do with what happened in this particular case. There is video that shows the child ringing the bell, not kicking the door. There is a witness who stated the homeowner was waiting outside for the kids to return. The witnes stated he fired his first shot at the ground before he raised his gun and shot twice hitting the child in the back.
Those are facts. What you keep trying to insinuate, is that the homeowner might have been fearful and applying blame to everyone else but the angry guy with the gun
That's a blame the victim mentality. Unfortunately I know that when I see it because I have dealt with it too many times with my family.

[Oopsie Daisy]

75. Well, it's clear that we've reached an impasse.

I haven't insulted you, so it's unclear why anyone would think that it's okay to insult me or to characterize what they believe to be my "motivations" in such a negative way. I see no useful purpose in continuing this interaction, do you? --- Bye.

[Lifeafter70]

76. Nope

Have a nice day

[JustAnotherGen]

95. The little kid

Knocked on his door.

Putting up clips of teenagers kicking in doors in relation to this - doesn't make sense.

My husband lived in the Bronx for 8 years in the 70's. Ding dong ditch is nothing compared to the shenanigans he and his little grade school friends got into the night of the black out. They made it home alive but my father in law was there waiting.

He got his ass whooped. He said the candy and ice cream bars were worth it.

He also used to catch rides down to the docks on his roller skates on the back of cars and make a little money doing a little of this and a little of that. He was like - 10.

[BannonsLiver]

92. Agree. That's just the harsh reality of it. Don't put yourself in that position in the first place. Problem solved.

[hunter]

102. I don't let anyone I'd care to shoot live in my head.

Life's a lot more pleasant that way.

In my own personal experience once the guns come out everything is FUBAR.

It doesn't really matter who is holding the guns.

[North Coast Lawyer]

34. There are way more important things to be scared about.

I'm not worried about a few dumb ass kids doing dumb ass kid stuff.

I am worried about fully armed masked storm troopers beholding only to Mango Mussolini on the streets of our cities.

[Skittles]

40. either way

it's a seriously stupid thing to do with the number of gun humping cowards in EVERY neighborhood

[Melon]

44. I read early on he was doing a tik tok challenge

Donkey kicking my door like you’re kicking it in will not be received well by anyone. Especially not in a high crime area of Houston.

[yardwork]

46. Just as a lot of falsehoods were spread about Trayvon Martin, we see that here.

The victim is an eleven year old child who repeatedly rang the doorbell. He didn't "donkey kick" anything. He definitely didn't bust in the door.

The man who shot this child waited in the dark next to his front door, and when the children returned, he shot this child in the back as he was running away.

I did similar dumb things as a child and I got sternly lectured by the adults I'd bothered. None of them shot me.

[Melon]

56. I'm not saying in any way that any child action justifies a shooting. I read and have heard that they were donkey

kicking doors. I would grab my gun and go to the door if someone was kicking my door like it was getting broken through like in the tik tok videos.

" The prank is part of a wider trend known as the “door-kicking challenge,” where teens kick on doors before fleeing and posting the footage online."

[yardwork]

59. As I said, falsehoods are being spread.

[LeftInTX]

62. He knew it was pranks. He should have yelled at them or called the cops.

He knew it wasn't a home invasion.

[JustAnotherGen]

87. Where is proof

The little boy kicked his door?

The first time I've heard or read this was in the OP. And that is not what triggered it.

They KNOCKED on his door.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/09/03/ding-dong-ditch-shooting-child-murder-investigation/85951930007/

They knocked on the door of a blue house, later identified as Leon's house, several times and ran away, the cousin said, according to the complaint. The last time they pulled the prank on the house, the cousin said they saw a man dressed in black emerge from a side gate holding a pistol. The man shot the pistol into the ground, the cousin said.

As the boys ran down the street, the man raised the pistol again and fired at them, striking Guzman in the back. Guzman fell and cried out, his cousin told investigators. The cousin tried to drag Guzman away and saw the shooter walk back inside the house

[Melon]

97. Exactly. It's printed in news articles same as your " proof". It is all in the news at this point.

[JustAnotherGen]

98. There is not ONE news

Article that statea this 11 year old little boy was trying to kick in this asshole murderer's door.

He knocked.

The articles all say he knocked.

Then the murderer hid, shot into the ground, chased them and kept shooting. Dude is a wuss if he has to shoot a little kid in the back.

Can we agree on that? An entire grown ass man had his balls in his hand?

[Melon]

100. He shouldn't have killed the boy. Nobody on this board has stated that.

Almost every article is referencing the tik tok challenge. Which is banking with closed fists and donkey kicking the door. Even nbc says banging on the door. Chill. I’m sure details will come out at trial.

[JustAnotherGen]

103. Nah

Knocking. Not banging.

Putting up snippets of teenagers kicking doors is falling for the media horse race where if the victim is a brown or black little boy they have the agency of 20 year old men.

That little guy looks like my nephew Alex - afro Latino.

He looks like one of mine. So I'm going to give a little kid the benefit of the doubt and not fall.for the media turning 11 year old little kids into super predators.

The murderer having Poor Home Training doesn't mean he gets a freebie from me.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

109. "Almost every article"

So you should be able to provide links?

[Oopsie Daisy]

50. It's unclear to me which he was doing. It seems unlikely that a mere ding-dong-run-away would provoke the homeowner...

... to respond as he did. But I guess the truth will all come out as the details and investigation unfolds.

[RockRaven]

64. Your assessment of likelihoods is way off.

There is voluminous evidence from all over this country, year after year, that people shoot and kill others with less provocation than even the minimum version of what has been reported or talked about in this case.

[Oopsie Daisy]

66. Yes, I know. That's horrible, isn't it?

[Feel Good Inc]

78. Nothing in the world is more dangerous than Sincere Ignorance and Conscientious Stupidity.

[Oopsie Daisy]

82. Very true.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

80. He's a psycho with lots of guns

and was charged with murder.

[Oopsie Daisy]

81. Yes. Definitely not in his right mind.

So tragic.

[JustAnotherGen]

89. He's being charged with capital murder

They were not donkey kicking the door.

I need to look at the murderer's background. He appears to be a product of Poor Home Training. People who do these things usually are. 20 some odd guns in his home? That's an Arsenal. It was only a matter of time before his two year old put hands on one and killed him.

[hamsterjill]

73. I don't think we know all of the facts yet on either side.

The only possible positive that can come from this is that parents need to use this incident as a teaching instrument for their children to explain to them that they should NEVER, EVER do this type of thing so that they don't get hurt or killed. Stating the obvious, of course, if the child hadn't been out doing this, he would still be alive. Am I condoning the fact that the boy was killed? Absolutely not. No way. But simple pranks that were once thought innocuous are no longer sanctioned like they once were, and gun-happy idiots are everywhere, especially in Texas!

What other good could come out of this than to possibly get one other child NOT to do this?

If you want to argue with me that "parents can't know where their children are 100% of the time" - then go ahead. But in the world we live in today, unfortunately, THAT is what it takes to keep your children safe. That's a pretty big burden for parents to carry, but that is what is necessary.

[Ilikepurple]

83. We probably have enough facts to make a reasoned assumption.

Perhaps more important is not whether the homeowner is guilty or not but why some are so determined to assume the kids are somehow at fault. “What other good could come out of this than to possibly get one other child NOT to do this?” How about possibly getting one other homeowner from doing this? This isn’t an either or situation, but to concentrate on the indiscretions of these children and criticizing their parents rather than the alleged murderer seems downright odd to me.

[hamsterjill]

84. You aren't going to be able to talk sense into a crazy idiot with a gun.

Parents MIGHT be able to talk some sense into an impressionable child. That's the point that I am making. Teach your children NOT to do this so that they don't get shot by a crazy idiot with a gun.

I didn't "concentrate on the indiscretions of these children and criticize their parents". Where did I criticize ANY parents in my post?

But parents ARE responsible for their under age children's behavior. That is fact. Parents have a duty to do all they can to protect their children, and the children need to understand that in today's world, there are crazy idiots with guns out there.

[Ilikepurple]

105. We have criminal laws as an attempt to control the behavior a crazy idiots with guns.

I hope that murder convictions provide some sort of deterrence. I also hope that children are urged by parents and peers to not engage in dangerous or destructive pranks. If you want to split hairs, telling others that they must abandon some of their parental methods in favor of yours isn’t technically criticism, but it kinda smells like it. I do agree that parents have an important role in guiding their children through the hazards of a world not of their making, but traditionally our society has tried to protect children both from their actions and the actions of others. I don’t want to resign ourselves into thinking crazy idiots with guns are uncontrollable forces of nature. At some point, lessons need to be learned about the limits of “stand your ground” or “the castle doctrine.” This tragic event is good as any.

[hamsterjill]

106. I don't think I've told others that they must abandon their parental methods.

Look, I don't know what it is that you are trying to drive at, but I'm not going to argue. If you want me to admit that *I* think the parents of this 11-year old bear some responsibility for him being out knocking on people's doors at 11:00 p.m., in violation of a curfew, then yes. I think they bear some responsibility for that. I'm sure that their own guilt over this is more than enough punishment. If you choose to have children, you are responsible for those children. Are parents perfect? None of us are. Kids don't always do as they are supposed to do. But the parents are always ultimately responsible for their children because children are minors and need to be protected from things they do not yet understand. But before you condemn me - read on.

I do not think that the penalty for this young man being precocious should be death. Especially not shot in the back while trying to run from an adult with a gun. There may be (I've not heard confirmation yet) some factors that shed more light on why the man reacted the way that he did. I've heard he's a combat veteran and he may have been mentally dealing with issues, etc. I don't know. But NOTHING makes it okay that he killed this kid.

Crazy idiots with guns may not be uncontrollable forces of nature, but they do exist and there are a helluva lot of them in Texas. I've lived here all of my life. There are parts of Houston that are heavy crime areas. There are many sane and rational Texans also who own guns for protection, and I think it is a naive concept to think that most people would limit the stand your ground laws. We are big on property rights around here and you don't go onto someone's property without their permission - out of respect, certainly, but also out of caution. Children need to be taught this by WHATEVER parental method each parent chooses. This needs to be done as a protection for those children.

Thanks for the discussion. I'm done now. I hope you have a great evening and a great Thursday.

[JustAnotherGen]

93. Another good thing

He goes to jail for the rest of his life.


If this hadn't happened - we would soon read about his 2 year old shooting her mother or father with one of 20 unsecured guns in the home.

This man had poor home training.

[hamsterjill]

104. You bring up a good point.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of them in Texas, particularly, who have that poor training. They all think they are Rambo, and are just waiting to be able to prove it. Their expectations don't align with reality (i.e., they are NOT Rambo!).

[Feel Good Inc]

77. The media LOVES to take a few minor incidences and turn it into a 'trend'.

So many people fall victim to the idea that this is an actual trend. There is no trend. This is like the razor blade in the Halloween candy. Easy to fool the gullible, tho.

[JustAnotherGen]

124. Ahh yes - and the Halloween Candy Poisoning 1983

That's the year the development moms pulled together a tented, heated (Kerosene Heaters) Halloween Party for all of us. I was 10.

No bagged candy - all homemade goods and stuff.

The 'panic' was as real as the satanic panic.

This is why as dead center gen-exer I get pissed when people say our Boomer parents ignored us. They sure as shit didn't ignore us when Adam Walsch was kidnapped and beheaded, or the 'satanic panic' or the poisoned Halloween Candy.

For younger Boomers who may not have had kids, and for millenials and younger - a Smithsonian Article -
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/where-did-the-fear-of-poisoned-halloween-candy-come-from-822302/

[Oopsie Daisy]

133. More than "a few" ... this is definitely a trend / fad that' gotten out of hand.

Follow the link and you can scroll and scroll... story after story... video after video (some dupes, obviously) but it paints an accurate picture of how people are being terrorized in their own homes and how lives are being ruined. Fortunately some of them have been arrested and charged rather than being killed. But, as we've seen here and in other incidents, the ending is tragic.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=door+kick+challenge

Yes... this is a trend.

[Feel Good Inc]

146. No it's not lmao

We're a country of over 300 million people. A handful of instances doesn't make a trend.

It's just people fearmongering and creating drama to scare boomers - and it seems to be working.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

79. The homeowner was arrested and charged with murder

What more is there to know?

Here's some more:

He was getting ready to flee police. He knew damn well he did wrong.

[JustAnotherGen]

94. Indeed he did

Last edited Thu Sep 4, 2025, 05:31 AM - Edit history (1)

He knew - he just didn't care.

I feel like people are trying to make him out to be another "Georgie" ie Trayvon Martin's murderer.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

108. +1

I don't understand the point or purpose of this thread.

[Lifeafter70]

113. There is no purpose

The op, by posting those vids seems to be looking for a reason to excuse the homeowner for his actions.
I don't understand why, since it has been pointed out over and over that what is depicted in those vids is not what happened.

[Brainfodder]

127. More like Death Wish challenge.

[JustAnotherGen]

130. Let's see

What happens when white teenagers in white suburbs get shot by white homeowners.

[sop]

128. Your post is the perfect example of an "Appeal to Extremes."

Appeal to Extremes is a logical fallacy argument; presenting exaggerated or outlandish versions of a situation to justify the most extreme action/reaction possible to an event that was much less extreme, or didn't even occur. It's often called a "Slippery Slope" or "Straw Man" fallacy. Demagogues often rely on such logical fallacy arguments.

[Oopsie Daisy]

129. Right. Sure it is.

[sop]

132. It's the textbook example.

You are using extreme examples (with disturbing video) or young hooligans trying to kick down someone's door, hoping to somehow justify someone else shooting an eleven-year-old boy for simply ringing a doorbell and running away. Your point was very clear, even if you didn't come right out and state it.

[Oopsie Daisy]

134. That's an imaginative take.

I'm not "justifying" anything. I've said several times in this thread that the shooting was not justified and that his death was tragic... but people are free to jump to conclusions and make disparaging insinuations about me.

[sop]

140. Yours was an imaginative and speculative post.

What is the real point you are trying to make? That shooting someone for trying to kick down your front door is justified? It probably would be under such extreme circumstances; Castle Doctrine laws legally allow homeowners to use deadly force to defend their homes.

The recent case of an eleven-year-old boy shot by a homeowner while running away after ringing a doorbell was discussed here at length. A number of people here expressed rather extreme views about that shooting, believing it could be justified. Most thought it was not justified, that it was murder.

Your post seems to be a veiled effort to justify the shooting of this eleven-year-old boy for simply ringing a doorbell and running away, a childish prank at worst, by using an extreme example of someone trying to actually kick down a front door. I'm not the only one who sees the point you're trying to make using an Appeal to Extremes.

[Oopsie Daisy]

141. Well... your take is wrong.

[sop]

142. So, what is the purpose of your post?

Are you saying your "question" was not alluding to the recent case of a homeowner shooting an eleven-year-old boy for simply ringing a doorbell and running away?

[Oopsie Daisy]

143. That question has been asked and answered, repeatedly, in many different ways.

Anyone who thinks that harassing and bullying will change my response, is mistaken. Goodbye, again.

[sop]

144. No one is harassing and bullying you. It's merely an interesting exchange of ideas and viewpoints.

[Oopsie Daisy]

145. Yes... sure... that's all it is.

[yardwork]

137. We saw this when Trayvon Martin was murdered.

The internet was full of scary photos of adult gangsters falsely identified as the victim. An incident in which a teen walking home from the store was murdered by an adult man was transformed by the internet into something else.

Trayvon's murderer was acquitted on the basis of self-defense.

The same thing is happening here.

[marble falls]

131. Kicking a door in is asking to be legally shot. This is a stupid game with lethal rewards.

[yardwork]

135. However, the child who was murdered didn't kick anything.

The eleven year old victim certainly didn't kick in a door.

The videos in the OP have nothing to do with the murder of a child in Houston.

[marble falls]

136. No shit, he was ambushed and shot in the back, I think you are conflating two different events.

[yardwork]

138. The OP is conflating two different events.

[Oopsie Daisy]

139. No it's not.... it asked a question and provided context. We have our answer... he did not donkey-kick the door.

Yet the anger at me continues. The nasty insinuations continue. Sadly... te "innocent" ding-dong-dash prank happens at a time when another type of home terrorism is quite prevalent. The loud BANG BANG BANG and ECHOING SOUNDS of someone SEEMINGLY INTENT ON BREAKING DOWN A DOOR kicks are quite a bit more than a more annoying 🎶🎶 ding-dong prank ... it is a LOUD THREAT and easily perceived as a CLEAR DANGER. People have had enough and rightfully so.

Thanks a lot.

[Kaleva]

152. What one can legally do isn't always the same as what one should do

Many gun owners don’t regularly don’t practice home invasion drills. Responsible gun owners do.

A responsible gun owner will also reinforce all the exterior doors making them much harder to kick in. An average young male in good health can easily kick open an unreinforced door . Even one that is deadbolted.

Responsible gun owners take steps to minimize having to resort to killing another human being.

[Orrex]

148. What an unambiguously delightful exchange

[Blue_Adept]

154. Did I log into Nextdoor by accident? Or is this DU?

[pinkstarburst]

156. Tiktok needs to issue permanent bans

on any accounts posting these challenges. Kids are getting killed because of them.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

157. Ringing and running is fairly innocuous behavior.

Trying to kick down a door isn't.