A Houston man has been charged with murder after an 11-year-old boy was fatally shot while playing a prank by ringing a doorbell and running away, police announced Tuesday.
The individual, 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr., was apprehended and is currently in custody at the Harris County Jail in Houston. Housing records indicate Leon as the homeowner of the residence where the boy is believed to have rung the doorbell.
Court records did not list an attorney for Leon to comment on the allegations.
Police stated that the young victim, Julian Guzman, was participating in a prank known as “ding dong ditching” late Saturday night, where someone rings a doorbell and quickly runs off before anyone answers.
“A witness reported that the suspect came out, ran into the street, and began shooting down the road,” explained Houston police Sgt. Michael Cass during a press briefing on Sunday.
The boy, who was shot in the back, died of his wounds Sunday, police said.
“In my opinion, it doesn’t look like any type of self-defense. It wasn’t close to the house,” Cass said.
In memory of Guzman, a makeshift memorial was created about half a block from where he collapsed. It includes a cross, prayer candles, flowers, and a photo of Julian.
Messages written on the cross express sentiments like, “I miss you Julian. I still wish you were here but I will always love you forever” and “I love you Julian. You will always be in my heart. Rest In Peace, Baby Mom.”
Other “ding dong ditch” pranks have turned deadly in the past. In 2023, a Southern California man was convicted of first-degree murder for killing three teenage boys by intentionally ramming their car after they rang his doorbell as a prank.
In May, a Virginia man was charged with second-degree murder for shooting an 18-year-old who rang his doorbell while a filming a TikTok video, the New York Times reported.
___
Associated Press photographer David J. Phillip contributed to this report.
___
Follow Juan A. Lozano:
