11-year-old boy fatally shot after doorbell prank in Houston
An 11-year-old boy in Houston was fatally shot after playing a doorbell prank with his cousin on 3 September. Julián Guzman was struck in the back by a homeowner’s gunfire and died the next day. The suspect, 42-year-old military veteran Gonzalo Leon Jr., has been charged with murder as prosecutors consider additional charges.
- Eleven-year-old Julián Guzman was shot and killed in Houston after ringing a doorbell as part of a prank.
- Homeowner Gonzalo Leon Jr., a military veteran, was charged with murder and remains under strict bond conditions.
- Investigators found around 20 firearms in Leon’s home as the case draws attention to the risks of childhood pranks.
A young boy lost his life in Houston after what began as a harmless prank.
Eleven-year-old Julián Guzman had been spending the evening with his cousin at a family gathering on 3 September.
Later that night, the two decided to step away from the party and walk through their east Houston neighborhood.
Like many children before them, they turned to a simple prank to pass the time — ringing doorbells and running away before anyone answered.
The boys successfully played the trick on several homes before arriving at a two-story house on Mimbrough Street shortly before 11 p.m.
Its large porch and set-back windows made it easy to approach without being seen.
Julián rang the bell and took off running with his cousin. According to prosecutors, the homeowner, 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr., came outside and fired two gunshots. One struck Julián in the back, about 20 feet away from the house.
The boy collapsed in the street and cried out for help.
His cousin later told investigators he had to drag Julián’s body, fearing the injury had paralyzed him.
Julián was rushed to hospital but died the following day.
Officials confirmed he had no weapon and had not stolen anything.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare described the incident as a tragedy, saying: “They were doing what 11-year-old boys do, just playing pranks on neighbors. Tragically, it cost him his life.”
After the shooting, officers surrounded Leon’s home and ordered him to surrender. He was detained after about 20 minutes.
Leon, a military veteran who served in Afghanistan, was charged with murder on 4 September 2025.
At his initial court appearances, his bond was set at US$1 million, with conditions including home confinement and electronic monitoring.
Prosecutors indicated additional charges, including capital murder, may follow.
Investigators searching Leon’s home reported finding about 20 firearms, including AR-style rifles and handguns.
His defense attorney argued that Leon, described as a disabled Army veteran, had been exercising his constitutional rights.
Authorities continue canvassing the neighborhood for evidence as Julián’s family mourns the boy, whose night of innocent fun ended in tragedy.
The case has also renewed scrutiny of “ding-dong-ditch,” a prank once regarded as mischievous but relatively harmless, now resurfacing on social media where videos of such stunts often go viral.
