Houston, TX – A 42-year-old man, Gonzalo Leon Jr, has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting and killing an 11-year-old boy, Julian Guzman, who was playing a prank in his neighborhood.
The incident happened late Saturday night, just before 11:00 p.m., in a Houston neighborhood. According to the Houston Police Department, Julian was taking part in the popular “ding dong ditch” prank — a game where kids ring doorbells and run away.
Witnesses say that Guzman had just rung a doorbell and was running away when someone opened fire. A witness told police that a man “ran out of the house and was shooting at the kids running down the street.” Tragically, Julian was shot in the back.
Police officers arrived to find the boy critically wounded. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died on Sunday from his injuries.
Initially, one person was detained at the scene but was later released. Following further investigation, Gonzalo Leon Jr was arrested on Tuesday and is currently being held at the Harris County Jail.
Authorities have confirmed the shooting does not appear to be self-defense. Houston Police Homicide Detective Sgt. Michael Cass noted that the evidence points to a deliberate and unnecessary act of violence.
The incident echoes other recent deadly responses to prank behavior, some of which have gone viral on platforms like TikTok. In previous similar cases, individuals have faced severe legal consequences for overreacting to such pranks.
Gonzalo Leon Jr now faces serious charges, and the tragic death of Julian Guzman has left a community mourning a young life lost too soon.
