A new viral TikTok prank spreading across social media has rattled communities and raised serious concerns among law enforcement officials.
TikTok prank the “door kick challenge” inspires vandalism across the country
Dubbed the “door kick challenge,” the dangerous trend involves teenagers pretending to break into homes, often wearing masks and wielding replica firearms, in a disturbing imitation of scenes from dystopian horror films.
In a recent incident captured on Ring doorbell video, five teens in Riverview, Florida were caught on camera enacting one of these so-called “pranks” late Friday night around 10:40 p.m.
The terrifying footage, released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, shows one masked teenager, his face concealed with a ski mask, holding what appears to be an airsoft gun as he approaches a home.
The teen fires a few plastic pellets at the front door before delivering a hard kick to the entrance and sprinting away, all while others laugh in the background and flee with him into the street.
Sheriff Chad Chronister issued a strong public warning in response, blasting the reckless behavior and warning of the potential for disaster.
“Parents, please talk with your children about this dangerous trend, which could end in tragedy,” he posted on X, sharing the alarming clip.
Authorities believe the prank, which mimics the lawless chaos of the “Purge” movie franchise where crime becomes legal for one night each year, is gaining popularity on TikTok and similar platforms.
Chronister has urged residents to contact law enforcement if they have any information that could help identify the teens in the video.
Two teens arrested for TikTok prank
But Riverview wasn’t the only Florida community affected. Earlier this month, two minors in DeBary, Florida, were taken into custody on felony burglary charges after engaging in a similar stunt involving a neighbor’s home.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, 15-year-old Jeffery Merthie and 13-year-old Zahmarii Reddick were seen on surveillance footage sneaking up to the front of a house.
In the video, they appear to face away from the door before simultaneously delivering repeated kicks to it, then dashing off the property.
Body camera footage later revealed Merthie being detained by deputies. He stood beside another unidentified juvenile as officers questioned them about the incident.
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According to deputies, the doorbell camera caught Merthie in unmistakable detail, right down to his multicolored shorts, which helped police identify and locate him.
Merthie attempted to defend the act as mere horseplay, saying they only kicked the door, but the officer quickly countered that excuse by pulling up pictures of the damaged entryway.
The images revealed significant damage, including splintered wood, a broken lock, and a completely dislodged doorknob.
Reddick was also apprehended after her mother gave deputies permission to search the house. She was taken into custody without further incident.
“Mom was furious with her daughter after deputies told her what she had been up to,” the sheriff’s office commented.
Teenager accused of paddleboarder’s murder
Meanwhile, another disturbing case involving a teenager has unfolded in Maine, this one ending in a far grimmer fashion.
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder after allegedly killing a 48-year-old woman at a local campground and then helping police search for her under false pretenses.
Deven Young, who had been staying at the Mic Mac Campground with his parents ahead of the July 4 holiday, was arrested last week in connection with the death of Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart.
Investigators say the woman went missing while paddleboarding near the campground and was later found strangled and bludgeoned to death in a wooded area.
The owner of the campground, Katharine Lunt, described the tragedy as uncharacteristic for their community.
“It’s not a place where these things happen,” Lunt told ABC News. “It’s not a place where we’re suspect of each other.”
Lunt said Young had always appeared helpful and eager to assist around the grounds, often offering to help with yard work and gifting handmade wooden crafts to fellow campers.
She also revealed that Young had actively participated in the search effort after Stewart disappeared, even leading officers away from where her body was eventually discovered.
“He volunteered, he said he had some information, and he took them in the opposite direction of where Sunny was found,” Lunt explained.
“He had said he had something to show them, and took them out on the lake on pretty much a wild goose chase.”
She added that the teen showed no signs of distress or guilt. “He acted like nothing ever happened… It’s haunting. He was not on anybody’s radar.”
Investigators became suspicious after inconsistencies emerged in Young’s account of events.
Officials spent several hours speaking with him before returning later that day to his family’s campsite, where they made the arrest.
Young is currently being held at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.
With his 18th birthday approaching in September, the Maine Attorney General’s Office has announced plans to pursue adult charges against him.
WGME 13 confirmed the teenager is facing charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse.
