Teen And Friends Held At Gunpoint After 'Ding-Dong Ditch' Gone Wrong, Police Say
HuffPost
Four young people told police that Melvin Rankin, 40, had chased them down and pointed a gun at them before stealing their car key.
A Missouri man was charged on Thursday after allegedly chasing down and holding at gunpoint four young people who rang his doorbell as part of a “ding-dong ditch” game, which involves ringing or knocking at someone’s door before running away.
Melvin Rankin, 40, was charged with several felonies, including unlawful use of a weapon and robbery, in connection with the incident Sunday.
After the young people playing the game fled his home in their car, Rankin allegedly chased them down and forced them to lie down at gunpoint before taking their car key, according to a Springfield police probable cause affidavit obtained by HuffPost.
The four young people, whose identities and ages were not released by authorities, were finishing a meal at IHOP on Sunday when they decided to play ding-dong ditch in Rankin’s neighborhood, according to the affidavit. His home was reportedly the last they visited.
Rankin’s girlfriend told police that someone rang their doorbell, and that when she looked through a Ring camera, she saw a masked male at the front door holding a gun, the affidavit said.
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Four young people told police that Melvin Rankin, 40, had chased them down and pointed a gun at them before stealing their car key.
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