A Houston man is accused of killing an 11-year-old boy after a “ding dong ditch” prank Saturday – the newest instance of a pattern that has left youngsters dead.
Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, was charged with murder Monday for the demise of 11-year-old Julián Guzman, the town of Houston stated Tuesday.
Harris County courtroom data beforehand recognized the suspect as Leon Gonzalo Jr. The suspect was booked into jail Tuesday morning, county data present.
Leon allegedly opened hearth on the 11-year-old, whom a witness described as operating away from the home when he was shot, in response to police.
“Officers were told the male was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away,” police stated. “A witness stated the male was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound.”
The shooting didn’t appear to contain self-defense as a result of the shooting “wasn’t close to the house,” Houston police murder Sgt. Michael Cass stated, in response to NCS affiliate KHOU.
The post-mortem report signifies the boy was no less than 20 ft away when he was shot — far sufficient to not be a risk, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare instructed NCS.
“He was doing what 11-year-old boys do. He was playing pranks on the neighbors, and it cost him his life,” he stated.
Leon made an preliminary courtroom look Tuesday and agreed to have a court-appointed legal professional.
When requested whether or not Leon has been cooperative with investigators, Teare stated no, and added he had not given them a assertion on the incident.
Prosecutors will request the choose set bond at $1 million at Wednesday morning’s listening to, the place Leon is anticipated to look once more, Teare instructed NCS. The choose will finally determine whether or not Leon needs to be allowed to be launched on bond.
Prosecutors may search a capital murder cost, given the younger age of the sufferer, Teare stated.
“Ding dong ditching” is an age-old prank that’s risen in recognition lately as a social media problem. TikTok movies typically function variations the place pranksters pound on or kick individuals’s entrance doorways.
In May, an 18-year-old highschool senior in Virginia was shot and killed whereas filming a “ding dong ditch” to submit on TikTok, The New York Times reported. The man accused of shooting the teenager was charged with second-degree murder.
In 2020, three 16-year-olds have been killed when a California man rammed his automobile into their car in retaliation for a “ding dong ditch” prank. The man was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced in 2023 to life in jail with out the potential for parole.
In the Houston case, the boy and his associates have been enjoying a sport of “ding dong ditch” at a home down the road from their properties simply earlier than 11 p.m. Saturday when a individual inside the home got here out and shot the boy, Houston police stated.
Julián was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead Sunday.
Julián’s mom, Janet Rodriguez, stated her son was an “affectionate, loving” boy who was “always smiling.”
“With immense pain in my heart, I share the loss of our son Julián,” Rodriguez wrote in Spanish on a verified GoFundMe page. “He was thoughtful to everyone. He was very loved by many people.”
Rodriguez stated her son’s demise is “a pain I never imagined feeling.”
“He was just a child. He harmed no one,” she wrote. “They took my child, my baby, at such a young age. We had a whole life ahead of us. He didn’t deserve this. We will always love you. It is not a goodbye, but a see you later.”
The sufferer help division in Harris County reached out to the household to assist them “navigate what is unquestionably the worst moments of their life,” Teare stated.
This story has been up to date with further data.
NCS’s Jeremy Grisham, Roxanne Garcia, Karina Tsui, Danya Gainor and Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.