Honk News (Springfield, MO) – A Missouri man, under lifetime GPS monitoring, allegedly fired at four children who were playing a game of knocking and running. He reportedly pursued them in his vehicle, forced them out at gunpoint, and took their car keys, according to police reports.
Melvin Rankin, 40, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, and robbery. A statement outlining the probable cause details the accusations from Sunday in Springfield, Missouri.
An individual claiming to be a victim reported to authorities that the group visited IHOP for a meal before opting to engage in a prank known as “ding-dong ditch” in the vicinity of Edgewood Street. At a residence, they pressed the doorbell and observed a man, who was later recognized as Rankin, peering out from a window, according to the document.
As the doorbell chimed once more, the garage door swung open, and a gunshot echoed from within, as stated in the document. Their vehicle sped away, but Rankin pursued them in a white Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to the probable cause statement.
At a cul-de-sac, Rankin approached the victims, brandishing a sawed-off shotgun with a pistol grip, and ordered them to exit their vehicle and lie down on the pavement, according to the report. The individuals complied with the instructions given to them.
At a certain moment, Rankin reportedly aimed the firearm at the back of one victim’s head while on the ground and inquired, “Who sent you?” and “Where’s the gun?”
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The individuals affected expressed to the accused that they were merely children and offered apologies for engaging in the game of “ding-dong ditch,” according to the document.
Rankin subsequently insisted on obtaining their car keys, which he seized before driving away in his Jeep, according to the statement.
Authorities swiftly tracked down Rankin, conducted a traffic stop while he was driving his Jeep, and took him into custody, according to the report.
Authorities discovered a single-shot, 20-gauge shotgun in the garage of Rankin’s residence, concealed in a towel within a drawer, as stated in the document. The wooden stock of the shotgun seemed to be handmade, designed for a firm grip when firing, according to the statement.
According to the document, Rankin is subject to lifetime GPS monitoring due to a conviction for first-degree statutory rape and is classified as a registered sex offender. The document reveals a pattern of noncompliance, highlighting his repeated failures to report as required and to attend scheduled court appearances.
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The statement indicated that he has prior convictions for breaking and entering, possession of a controlled substance, and driving with a revoked license. Authorities reported that he has acknowledged his membership in the Crips gang and has tattoos on his forearms that signify his gang ties, as stated in the document.
He is currently in custody at the Greene County Jail, with a bond review hearing scheduled for Tuesday, according to online court records.