A viral TikTok trend, known as the “Door Kick Challenge” or “Door Knock Challenge,” is causing alarm among law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Participants — typically teenagers — kick or aggressively bang on random residential doors, often at night, then run away. Though reminiscent of the traditional “ding-dong ditch” prank, this challenge has escalated to significant property damage and real safety concerns.
RELATED | Social media as an investigative tool: OSINT strategies for law enforcement
Why is law enforcement concerned?
Authorities across the United States have highlighted the serious legal and safety risks associated with this viral challenge in recent months. Russell Klumpp of the Topeka Police Department in Kansas noted, “There’s a criminal element. More disturbing, however, and the reason for this safety message, is the dangers that are associated with conduct in these challenges. So, when you go to a random residence and you start kicking on the door, residents inside can easily mistake that for an attempted burglary, somebody trying to break into their home and cause them harm.”
Klumpp goes on to state that homeowners can respond to the threat of a perceived intruder in a number of ways, including shooting the perceived intruder.
Police departments, including in South Fulton, Georgia, have issued strong warnings, emphasizing, “Not only is this illegal and classified as criminal trespassing or attempted burglary, but it also puts everyone involved at serious risk.”
Real-world consequences
Multiple incidents nationwide illustrate the challenge’s dangers. In DeBary, Florida, two teens were charged with felony burglary after kicking open a homeowner’s door. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood bluntly warned, “That’s a good way to end up dead, especially in Florida,” citing the state’s Castle Doctrine, which allows homeowners to use lethal force against perceived intruders.
Additionally, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida reported juveniles kicking a door and firing an airsoft gun, significantly increasing the risk of a dangerous confrontation.
Nationwide incidents highlight scope of issue
Outside of Florida, reports from multiple states underscore how widespread and serious the challenge has become:
- Bucks County, Pennsylvania: In Bucks County, incidents involving severe door damage prompted investigations. The Fleetwood Police Department warned, “While ‘ding-dong ditch’ has been a hallmark for decades, today’s youth have taken things to a more serious level by kicking at doors and ultimately causing damage.”
- Lower Swatara Township, Pennsylvania: Police responded to several overnight incidents involving juveniles attempting to kick in doors, WHTM reported. Video captured teens striking a homeowner’s door before running off. “It absolutely is a crime,” Chief Thomas Bell said, noting potential charges include felony burglary, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
- Elk Grove, California: Police reported eight incidents in the last month tied to the challenge, resulting in five juvenile arrests, according to CBS Sacramento. One homeowner’s doorframe was damaged so severely that repairs neared $900. “Somebody could come out with a gun … these kids could be dead just for a stupid prank,” resident Ronnie Monroe said after his garage was kicked twice in two weeks.
- Frisco, Texas: Police arrested a 58-year-old man after he allegedly fired multiple rounds at a vehicle fleeing a neighborhood following the door-kicking prank. According to the Frisco Police Department, teens had been “ding-dong ditching” and attempting to kick doors when the suspect confronted them with a firearm and opened fire as they drove away. Officers later found three bullet holes in the victims’ vehicle. “Parents, please talk to your kids about the dangers of participating in these types of TikTok challenges,” Chief David Shilson said, adding that the teens were fortunate they were not killed or seriously injured.
- Fort Worth, Texas: The Fort Worth Police Department put out a community warning after receiving more than 20 reports of the challenge, stating, “It is imperative that individuals partaking in this trend understand that even if no burglary or theft occur, this behavior is illegal and considered vandalism and can lead to criminal charges. More critically, it can be mistaken as an attempted break-in, potentially prompting dangerous or defensive responses from homeowners.”
- Pierce County, Washington: In Pierce County, deputies renewed warnings after learning an 11-year-old in the Houston area was shot when a homeowner mistook the kicking for a break-in, KIRO Newsradio reported. Deputies said the trend has also caused significant property damage locally and urged parents to discuss the dangers with their children.
- Van Buren Township, Michigan: Police in Van Buren Township responded to two separate incidents involving juveniles, resulting in over $1,000 in damage. The involved youths now face felony charges for property destruction.
- Louisville, Kentucky: After a resident was awoken in the middle of the night, the Louisville Police Department issued a strong warning: “Anyone participating in this type of behavior is certainly risking their own life,” said LMPD Spokesperson John Bradley. ”A resident could easily assume resorting to deadly force against the person is the next appropriate course of action to protect themselves from what they believe may be an intruder. This type of behavior is stupid and dangerous.”
- Byesville, Ohio: Police in Byesville investigated a series of door-kicking incidents, warning that such actions might meet burglary criteria in “stand-your-ground” jurisdictions, potentially leading to deadly confrontations.
- Manhattan Beach, California: The Manhattan Beach Police Department issued warnings after a group of teenagers kicked a resident’s door twice in one early morning incident, urging parents to discuss legal consequences with their children.
- Waukesha, Wisconsin: Similar incidents have happened throughout the state. In July, the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office reported at least five incidents tied to the challenge. In one of those incidents, a homeowner told TMJ4 they grabbed their gun to confront the participants.
- Las Vegas, Nevada: In Las Vegas, homeowner Tyler Reggie told KVVU that they had $5,000 worth of property damage after being targeted by pranksters early in the morning.
Deadly incidents tied to door-banging pranks
While many recent reports involve the “Door Kick Challenge,” several deadly cases underscore how any door-banging prank — including traditional “ding-dong ditch” — can be mistaken for an attempted break-in, leading to fatal outcomes.
Houston, Texas: An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed after he and his friends banged on a door late at night in a “ding-dong ditch” prank, according to ABC News. Police say the suspect, 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr., allegedly ran into the street and fired multiple rounds as the children fled. The boy collapsed a block away and later died at a hospital. Detectives said the shooting does not appear to be self-defense. Leon has been charged with first-degree murder.
Spotsylvania County, Virginia: In May, an 18-year-old high school senior was shot and killed after he and two friends were recorded banging, kicking and slamming on doors — including a neighbor’s garage door — while attempting a TikTok “ding-dong ditch” challenge, according to FOX 5 DC. The shooting happened around 3 a.m. after the teens approached the rear of a Fredericksburg-area home. The homeowner told the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office that he believed the group was attempting to break in and opened fire, killing one teen and wounding another. Deputies later confirmed the behavior went beyond ringing a doorbell, with surveillance footage showing forceful strikes on neighboring homes. The homeowner, 27-year-old Tyler Butler, has been charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and firearm offenses.
Corona, California: In 2020, three teenagers were killed when a man intentionally rammed their vehicle after they rang his doorbell and ran. The suspect, enraged by the prank, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to PEOPLE.
Where did the ‘Door Kick Challenge’ originate?
While the challenge is currently gaining traction again on social media, it first gained attention in 2021. A similar trend, sometimes referred to as the “heartbeat challenge,” emerged among college students and involved kicking or pounding on doors to the beat of Kesha’s 2012 song “Die Young.”
The trend first started in college dorms with videos from that time showing participants forcefully striking dorm or apartment doors in sync with the song’s drumbeat — sometimes kicking them hard enough to open the door entirely. Though that version of the challenge faded, the behavior has reemerged in neighborhoods across the country, now often without the musical element.
How parents can help
Authorities urge parents to proactively address these risky trends with their children. Open dialogues about the consequences of online trends can help prevent tragic outcomes.
With the “Door Kick Challenge” gaining momentum again, law enforcement leaders hope heightened awareness and active parental engagement will curb dangerous behaviors before they lead to further tragedies.
What steps is your agency taking to address or prevent risky social media trends like the ‘Door Kick Challenge’?
Police1 readers respond
- We had some door-kicking in our neighborhood. It stopped now, but it did not happen at night, and the children caught in the video seemed to be younger than teenagers. In one instance, the homeowner did have a doorbell camera. He circulated the video to neighbors and one person recognized the kids from the school across the street. The police did contact the principal and homeowner was told he would receive an apology letter from the kids, but that never happened. We reported the lack of response to the police. Luckily, there hasn’t been an incident for quite a while.
- If any social media website is promoting this activity, they are breaking the law. The First Amendment doesn’t protect anyone urging people to commit crimes. If this were to appear on TikTok, Facebook or any other social media website, their attorneys should be contacted and advised that civil or criminal charges could be levied against them. Many of these social media trendy challenges have caused harm to people in the past, yet nobody does anything about the people who are putting it out over the airwaves and promoting it. Social media, if not held to be responsible, has proven that it will be irresponsible.
- I’m an officer, and if my door gets kicked in, the perpetrators are likely to get bit or worse from my K9 companion. Kids just don’t think of possible consequences.
This article, originally published on Aug. 7, has been updated to reflect newer instances of the “Door Kick Challenge.”
