A homeowner accused of shooting at children during a ‘ding-dong ditch’ prank allegedly waited for their return before firing his weapon.
Gonzalo Leon Jr., aged 42, faced arrest over the weekend after 11-year-old Julian Guzman was fatally shot while fleeing after they rang doorbells in the neighborhood as part of the prank.
This past Wednesday, a Houston district court judge set Leon’s bond at $1 million, with the district attorney’s office intending to raise the charges from murder to capital murder.
It is alleged that Leon, intending harm, was lying in wait in the dark outside his home to confront the children if they returned, according to Harris County District Attorney Sean Terre, who spoke with the local Fox affiliate, KRIV.
The young victim and his cousin had rung Leon’s doorbell multiple times, only to quickly run away before he answered the door.
Investigators allege that Leon opened fire after the boys back went to his house again, shooting Guzman in the back.
Guzman’s cousin reported to the authorities that Leon was seen emerging from a gate by his house to open fire, initially shooting at the ground and then aiming at them.
‘This was someone brutally murdering an 11-year-old simply because they were mad,’ Terre told KRIV.
Julian Guzman, 11, was playing the viral decades-old game with his cousin when he was shot and killed over the Labor Day weekend
Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, is being held on $1 million bond and will likely face capital murder charges for the crime
Texas authorities arrested a Houston man on Saturday for allegedly shooting and killing an 11-year-old boy playing ‘ding-dong ditch’
‘We have a little boy who didn’t even have a chance to get his life going yet, struck down for nothing’.
Teare told the outlet that Leon ‘shot him [Guzman] down and went about his business’.
The district attorney highlighted the risks of firing a weapon out of anger, noting that ‘ding-dong ditch’ is a game known for decades.
Investigators recovered at least 20 firearms from Leon’s home, including a medium-caliber handgun believed to be the alleged murder weapon.
Guzman’s cousin, who wasn’t identified, told police that the two were participating in the viral game on Saturday night because they were ‘bored’ at a birthday party, according to a criminal complaint.
After hearing gunshots, he turned around to see his cousin collapse, pleading for help and believing his legs were paralyzed.
Guzman’s cousin said he saw the shooter slowly walk back to his house as he tried to get his family member to safety.
The 11-year-old was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy found that he had died from a gunshot wound.
Leon was seen in court on Wednesday for a bond hearing. Authorities are still investigating the shocking case
Harris County District Attorney Sean Terre revealed in an interview that authorities believe Leon was waiting for the kids to return to allegedly open fire
Authorities also revealed that Leon has a wife and a young child. He was initially released before the case became a homicide investigation.
A SWAT team swarmed the outside of a Houston hotel. Leon’s court-appointed attorney, Gianpaolo Macerola, later told reporters that his family had gone to the hotel to avoid the media.
‘I know that he’s innocent until proven guilty based on the Constitution,’ Macerola said after Wednesday’s hearing.
Guzman’s family has shared a GoFundMe to support his loved ones during the shocking tragedy.
Guzman’s cousin told police that the two were running from the Houston home (pictured) when he heard gunshots
Guzman’s mother, Janet Rodriguez, remembered him as an ‘affectionate’ and ‘loving’ young boy
His mother, Janet Rodriguez, described her son in the description of the fundraiser as ‘affectionate, loving, always smiling,’ and ‘attentive to everyone’.
‘My child, my baby, was stolen from me at a very young age. We had a whole life ahead of us. He didn’t deserve it,’ she added.
‘He was loved by many people,’ she continued, adding: ‘We will always love you. It’s not a goodbye, but a see you later,’ Rodriguez continued.
‘I will forever love you, my boy. You’re gone, but never forgotten’.
Daily Mail has reached out to the district attorney’s office for comment.
