Teen And Friends Held At Gunpoint After ‘Ding-Dong Ditch’ Gone Wrong, Police Say

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.

She said that she and Rankin then went to the garage when the doorbell rang a second time, and that she went back into the house while Rankin decided to open the garage door to confront the person, according to the affidavit. She told police she then heard approximately two gunshots.

The young people told police they heard a gunshot coming from inside the garage and ran to their car and drove away, according to the affidavit. However, they said, they soon realized that Rankin was following them in a white Jeep. He followed their car at high speed until they reached a dead end, then pulled up next to them and told them to exit the vehicle while pointing a sawed-off shotgun at them, according to the affidavit. The four lay on the ground, allegedly per his instructions.

“Who sent you?” Rankin allegedly asked the group, placing the gun at the back of one of their heads. “Where’s the gun?”

One of the young people told Rankin they were just kids and apologized for playing ding-dong ditch, according to the affidavit. Rankin allegedly demanded their car keys and then left in his Jeep.

One of the youths showed police where Rankin’s home was later that day, and Rankin was taken into custody during a traffic stop on Monday. Authorities said he had two handguns and suspected controlled substances in his vehicle.

Officers who searched Rankin’s home found a 20-gauge shotgun with an apparent handmade stock and notably shorter barrel, according to the affidavit.

Police also noted that Rankin is on a lifetime of GPS monitoring due to a previous statutory rape conviction and has failed to report as a sex offender. He has also admitted he was affiliated with the Crips gang, police said.

An attorney for Rankin was not listed under his court records. He is due in court for a bond review on Tuesday.