A childhood prank in Houston turned fatal Saturday night when an 11-year-old boy was shot and killed after ringing a homeowner’s doorbell and running away.
Julián Guzman and his cousin left a family party to play “ding-dong-ditch” in their east Houston neighborhood. Just before 11 p.m., they approached a two-story home on Mimbrough Street and rang the bell. As the boys fled, the homeowner opened the door and fired two shots. One struck Julián in the back from at least 20 feet away, according to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. The boy died from his injuries at a hospital the next day.
Authorities surrounded the residence and, using a bullhorn, ordered the occupant to surrender. Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, emerged from the home and was detained. His wife and a young child were also inside at the time.
On Monday, Leon was formally charged with murder. Teare stated that prosecutors may also seek a capital murder charge due to the victim’s young age. “They were doing what 11-year-old boys do, just playing pranks on neighbors,” Teare said. “Tragically, it cost him his life.”
During an initial court appearance on Tuesday, Leon agreed to be represented by a court-appointed attorney. Prosecutors will request a $1 million bond at his next hearing.
Investigators are canvassing the neighborhood for evidence and witness statements to build a comprehensive timeline of the night’s events. Teare confirmed that Julián was unarmed and there was no indication he had stolen anything. He described one of the shots as being fired in an “intentional, measured way.” While the investigation is exhaustive, authorities have not yet located any surveillance footage that captured the shooting.
Prosecutors firmly reject any potential self-defense claim under Texas’s “Castle Doctrine” or “Stand Your Ground” laws, which permit the use of deadly force against an unlawful intruder if there is a perceived threat.
“The castle doctrine does not apply in any way, shape or form to an 11-year-old boy running down the street,” Teare said. “There was no threat to the individual that shot him.”
This incident is the latest in a series of violent confrontations across the U.S. linked to the doorbell prank, which has seen a resurgence in popularity due to social media trends. In 2020, three California teenagers were killed when a man rammed their car in retaliation for a similar prank; he was later sentenced to life in prison. More recently, a man in a Dallas suburb was arrested for aggravated assault after firing at a fleeing car in July.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide have issued warnings about the severe risks associated with the prank. “What might seem like a prank can lead to serious legal trouble, property damage, or worse – someone getting hurt,” the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana posted online in August.
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