Anthony Yates
Authorities in South Indiana are warning about a new TikTok Challenge where players allegedly approach homes, kick the front doors, and fire airsoft guns.
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What happened: According to a report by WLKY, law enforcement in Indiana is spreading the word about a viral ‘door-kick’ challenge on TikTok. During the challenge, players reportedly show up at homes unannounced and kick the front door.
- The outlet shared ring camera footage from several homes. The videos appear to show armed youths kicking the door and spraying the house with airsoft pellets. WLKY stresses that this is a problem because the homeowners have no idea if the gun is real or not.
- Chief Deputy Cody Low with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office told WLKY, “That puts everybody on edge. Especially in smaller communities like we have, that people are doing this stuff.”
Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies Have Addressed The TikTok Challenge
Spreading awareness: The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office and Jeffersonville Police Department both posted news releases about the challenge on Facebook.
- Authorities note that juveniles participating in the challenge are armed with airsoft guns, which fire plastic BBs.
- “It seems that there are a couple of different outcomes to this trend,” the JCSO release reads. “If the door is forced open the juveniles will shoot the airsoft gun into the home in rapid succession before running away. However, if the door is unable to be forced open the juveniles will stand at the side of the residence and shoot the airsoft weapon at the homeowner when they exit the home.”
- JCSO reveals that officers responded to a similar situation in October and fear that the trend will grow in popularity.
- Speaking about the participants, Low told WLKY, “Their actions are going to have consequences. Whether it’s criminally or getting hurt during these pranks, it’s not worth that risk.”
A prank gone wrong: A ‘ding dong ditch‘ prank in Texas made headlines last month after a homeowner opened fire on strangers at his front door.
- An 11-year-old and his friends were allegedly playing ding dong ditch at around 11 PM. It’s a game where players knock on a front door and run away before someone opens it.
- One resident reportedly chased the kids away from his property before shooting one in the back. Emergency services treated the victim, but he died the following day. Authorities charged the homeowner with murder, saying they did not believe they acted in self-defense.
