A Riverside County, California man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of three teenagers following a "ding-dong ditch" prank in 2020. Anurag Chandra, 45, was convicted in April on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.
The incident occurred on January 19, 2020, when a group of teenagers rang Chandra's doorbell as a prank. Chandra, who testified he had consumed a 12-pack of beer that day, claimed one of the teens mooned him before fleeing. Enraged by the prank and fearing for his family's safety, Chandra pursued the teens in his vehicle.
Officials reported Chandra chased the teens' Toyota Prius at speeds reaching 99 mph, ultimately rear-ending and sideswiping their vehicle, forcing it off the road and into a tree. He then fled the scene, later claiming he didn't realize anyone was injured. The crash resulted in the deaths of 16-year-olds Daniel Hawkins, Drake Ruiz, and Jacob Ivascu. The 18-year-old driver and two 13-year-old passengers survived.
Chandra was apprehended on January 20, 2020, and has remained in custody since. This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of impulsive actions fueled by anger and alcohol.
