Ding-Dong-Ditch lands man in jail, teen in hospital

A Rayville man has been arrested for shooting a teenager playing the game Ding-Dong-Ditch.

Richland Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Michael Scott Duckworth of Rayville on May 1, charging him with one count of second degree battery.  This arrest stemmed from an incident early on April 30 when a group of teens were knocking on doors and running away.

The teens knocked on Duckworth’s door and then ran to another residence, knocking there also. They then were running through a field when Duckworth spotlighted them and fired his weapon, striking one of the teens.  

Duckworth was booked into the Richland Parish Detention Center with a bond being set at $150,000.

Richland Parish Sheriff Gary Gilley would like to warn teens and parents of the consequences of playing Ding-Dong-Ditch. 

This game, which has become popular on social media, involves knocking on doors and running away. RPSO has received several complaints throughout the parish involving this game over the last several weeks, including the one which led to Duckworth’s arrest after a teen was hospitalized. 

Sheriff Gilley urges parents and guardians to talk to their kids about the dangers of this kind of prank.

Last week a California man was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder after killing three teenagers who had just played this game of Ding-Dong-Ditch at his residence.