A neighborhood prank turned tragic when 11-year-old Julian Guzman was fatally shot while playing “ding-dong ditch” with his cousin outside a Houston home.
Police say the accused shooter, 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr., was lying in wait behind a fence in his yard when the children rang his doorbell multiple times on Saturday night. As the boys ran away, Leon allegedly opened fire.
According to investigators, Guzman and his 10-year-old cousin knocked on the suspect’s door three times over the course of 15 minutes while attending a family gathering nearby. On the third attempt, Guzman recorded himself knocking and sprinting away. The video captured the sound of gunshots and Guzman gasping for air moments later.
Detectives emphasized that the children were “clearly not threatening in any way.” Guzman’s cousin, panicked and unsure what to do, tried to carry him to safety before first responders arrived.
Guzman was rushed to a local hospital, where he died the following day. A makeshift memorial now grows in his Houston neighborhood as friends, family, and neighbors grieve the senseless loss.
Leon, a former Army veteran, has been charged with murder and booked into Harris County Jail. Authorities said a search of his home uncovered a handgun, more than 20 additional firearms, tactical gear, and smoke grenades.
Detectives also revealed that Leon was later found at a hotel in La Porte, Texas, with a packed car and a three-day reservation, raising questions about whether he planned to flee.
Leon is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. Police vow to pursue justice for Guzman as the case shines a national spotlight on gun violence, neighborhood safety, and the tragic consequences of what should have been a harmless childhood prank.
