A Texas man was jailed on murder charges on Tuesday, days after he allegedly shot and killed an 11-year-old boy playing a “ding dong ditch” prank.
Houston police said Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, shot Julian Guzman in the back as he ran from a home on Saturday. Guzman and a few friends rang Leon’s doorbell and ran off before Leon exited his home and fired, mortally wounding the boy, according to the Houston Chronicle.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Guzman — who was struck multiple times — died the following day.
The Houston Chronicle reported that Leon was initially released from custody after questioning. Houston police Sgt. Michael Cass said they detained Leon again following the boy’s death.
Police said they found a “significant amount of weapons” inside the suspect’s home.
Guzman lived a block from the home where Saturday’s shooting transpired. Cass said Guzman ran about a block before collapsing in the street.
Residents created a makeshift memorial for the boy, adorned with crosses, candles, flowers, and messages of support, around half a block from the suspect’s home.
“In my opinion, it doesn’t look like any type of self-defense,” Cass said, according to ABC News.
Leon remains jailed without bond pending a bail hearing, scheduled for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, previous fatal pranks cases are recirculating amid the latest incident. In 2023, a California man who killed three teens was convicted of first-degree murder after the victims died after ringing the man’s doorbell during a prank.
The man, according to WMAR, rammed his vehicle into all three victims.
Earlier this year, a Virginia man was convicted of second-degree murder after shooting a teen during a similar prank. The victim had reportedly rung the man’s doorbell during a prank for a TikTok video.
This story is developing.
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[Feature Photo: Houston police, GoFundMe]
