Eleven-year-old Julián Guzman and his cousin had been at a family party in east Houston on Saturday night when they decided to sneak away for some fun.
Their game was an old one — ring a neighbor’s doorbell, then run away before the person could answer. But what began as a harmless prank ended in tragedy.
The boys had already pulled off the trick at a few houses when they reached a home on Mimbrough Street just before 11 p.m. Julián rang the bell and sprinted away. Moments later, prosecutors say, the homeowner stepped outside and fired two shots. One bullet hit Julián in the back.
The child was rushed to a hospital but died from his injuries the next day, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told CNN.
“They were doing what 11-year-old boys do, just playing pranks on neighbors,” Teare said. “Tragically, it cost him his life.”
Cousin Tried to Save Him
According to a criminal complaint, Julián’s cousin said they had knocked on several doors before arriving at the home of 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr. Leon was inside with his wife and young daughter.
The cousin told police that after they rang the doorbell, a man dressed in black came out, fired once into the ground, then raised his gun and shot again toward the boys. Julián collapsed and cried for help.
The cousin tried to pull him to safety, dragging him because he thought Julián’s legs were paralyzed. Police later confirmed there was a stop sign in front of Leon’s house — the spot where the cousin said the gunman stood.
Court records state Julián died while being treated for the gunshot wound.
Army Veteran Charged
Leon is a former Army infantryman who served from 2013 to 2016 and later joined the Texas National Guard, according to Army spokesperson Christopher Surridge. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and left service with the rank of specialist.
Investigators say Julián had no weapon and wasn’t stealing anything. Prosecutors argue that Leon deliberately fired the second shot that struck the child.
Police surrounded Leon’s home after the shooting, ordering him out with loudspeakers. He surrendered after about 20 minutes and was later charged with murder.
Teare said the case will be presented as a capital murder, which could bring the death penalty.
Bond Set at $1 Million
Leon appeared in court this week, where Judge Emily DeToto set his bond at $1 million with conditions including home confinement and electronic monitoring.
Prosecutor John Brewer said officers found about 20 weapons in Leon’s house, including AR-style rifles.
Leon’s attorney, Gianpaolo Macerola, argued that his client is a disabled veteran who believed he was exercising his constitutional rights.
Investigators Continue Search for Evidence
Authorities are still piecing together what happened before the shooting. Investigators are canvassing the neighborhood to confirm which houses the boys visited.
Police have not recovered surveillance video of the incident but say the investigation is ongoing.
“We are beating every bush, we’re turning over every rock,” Teare said. “We’re going to exhaust every investigative effort.”
Texas Self-Defense Laws
Texas has one of the strongest versions of “Stand Your Ground” or “Castle Doctrine” laws, which allow deadly force in certain cases to protect people or property.
But prosecutors say the law doesn’t apply here.
“The castle doctrine does not apply in any way, shape or form to an 11-year-old boy running down the street,” Teare told CNN.
The Prank’s Deadly Consequences
The game of “ding dong ditch” has been around for generations but has seen a resurgence on social media, where videos of pranks often go viral. Authorities warn that what seems like a joke can quickly turn dangerous.
In 2020, three teens in California were killed when a man deliberately rammed their car after they pranked him. He was later convicted of murder. Just this summer, a man near Dallas was arrested after firing shots into a car of pranksters.
Law enforcement agencies across the country are urging kids to think twice.
“What might seem like a prank can lead to serious legal trouble, property damage, or worse – someone getting hurt,” Indiana’s Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office warned in a Facebook post.
