Ten Tennessee teenagers were arrested and face criminal charges in connection with a viral TikTok door-kicking challenge.
The “Door Kick Challenge” is a controversial social media trend in which individuals—typically young people—kick residential front doors, often at night, and quickly flee the area.
KNOCK IT OFF: Police are warning residents about a viral TikTok trend known as the “door kick” or “door knock challenge” after three Florida teenagers were arrested for allegedly kicking a homeowner’s door. pic.twitter.com/CSNJFqv88Q
— Seattle Smith🇺🇸 (@smith_seattle1) December 4, 2025
Attempting to outdo the “ding-dong ditch” prank, the challenge has at times led to property damage and safety concerns.
Spanning across the country and around the world, the trend has taken on a life of its own—and now carries real-world consequences for a group of teenagers in a Nashville suburb.
The Franklin Police Department arrested ten teenagers, ages 14 to 18, for allegedly participating in the prank. Just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to multiple reports of individuals kicking or striking the front doors of homes, then fleeing in the upscale neighborhood.
“After receiving multiple calls, Franklin police officers quickly flooded the area, established a perimeter, and sealed off the neighborhood,” the police department said. “During the operation, officers located a vehicle carrying all 10 suspects.”
Inside the vehicle, police officers said they found a BB gun designed to closely resemble a real handgun, along with a ski mask. Two adults, Gio Smith, 18, and Jordan Curll, 18, were charged with aggravated burglary, vandalism, and contributing to the delinquency of a child. Eight additional suspects, ages 14 to 17, were taken into custody and charged in Juvenile Court with aggravated burglary, vandalism, and curfew violations.
“This dangerous trend is far from harmless,” said Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner. “Kicking the door of an occupied home in the middle of the night creates fear and uncertainty for the people inside.
“Homeowners have no way of knowing whether someone is playing a prank or attempting to break into their home, and they may respond accordingly to protect themselves and their families,” she added.
Franklin, an affluent suburb known for its Southern charm, is the latest community to report arrests tied to the trend.
Out west in California, police have reported eight incidents in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, resulting in five juvenile arrests, according to CBS Sacramento. One homeowner’s doorframe was damaged so severely that repair costs totaled $900.
“Somebody could come out with a gun, and you could never know, these kids could be dead just for a stupid prank,” homeowner Ronnie Monroe told the outlet.
In Frisco, Texas, police arrested a 58-year-old man for aggravated assault after he allegedly fired multiple rounds at a vehicle fleeing a neighborhood following the door-kicking prank.
“Parents, please talk to your kids about the dangers of participating in these types of TikTok challenges,” said Frisco Police Chief David Shilson. “For homeowners, it is important to understand that there are legal and criminal consequences for running outside and shooting at a vehicle fleeing the scene.”
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