Houston (AP) – Police have charged a Houston man with murder A deadly shooting of an 11-year-old boy Police said Tuesday.
The 42-year-old man, identified by authorities as Gonzalo Leon Jr., was taken into custody and booked at Houston’s Harris County Jail early Tuesday. In local property records, Leon matches the name of the homeowner. There, police say the boy knocked on the door.
Court records did not list any attorneys who Leon would comment on the allegations.
Boy Julian Guzman and his cousin were attending a birthday party on Saturday night, saying, “I want to ring the doorbell or play “Din Don Ditch.” Pranks commonly known as “Ding Dong Ditching” include ringing the doorbell, knocking on the door, and running away before anyone inside opens the door.
Police departments across the country have issued public services announcements in recent months, warning people that such actions are not funny but not dangerous. According to June, homeowners have no way of knowing it’s “just a prank.” Facebook Posts by Georgetown, Kentucky State Police Department.
Guzman’s cousin told investigators that he and Guzman knocked on Leon’s door several times and escaped. In the first statement, police said Guzmann had ringed the doorbell, but the affidavit said the boy had knocked.
The last time he and his cousin knocked, Leon came out with a pistol he had fired once into the ground. According to the affidavit, Leon raised a pistol and fired fire on Guzman and his cousin.
“Our witnesses say the suspect came out the door, ran off into the street and was shooting in the road,” said Houston Police Sergeant. Michael Cass told reporters on Sunday.
According to the affidavit, Guzman’s cousin told police he “sighed in agony that he was shot.” As Guzman’s cousin was about to pull the boy away, Leon slowly returned to his house.
Guzman was shot in the back and died Sunday, police said.
“In my opinion, it doesn’t look like any kind of self-defense. It wasn’t close to home,” Cass said.
Police found around 20 firearms at Leon’s home, including an AR-style rifle, a shotgun and a medium-caliber pistol.
Texas and other states have a version of the “castle doctrine” by law or court precedent, saying residents don’t have to retreat when threatened at home, but can instead respond with physical force. Texas law gives people a wide latitude to protect themselves, others, and property, but it requires a reasonable belief that power is needed in situations.
Houston’s attorney Seth Kretzer said Leon would not file a strong self-defense lawsuit under state law, although not related to the case, if the shooting was allegedly a police claim.
“You can’t shoot a child on the street because he knocks on your doorbell and declares you feel you’re being threatened by him. I mean it’s a little hard to believe in a grown man with a gun threatened by 11-year-olds fleeing the street,” Kretzer said.
About half a block away from the suspect’s house, where Guzman collapsed after being shot, a makeshift memorial was set up with a cross, prayer candles, flowers and a photo of the boy.
“I miss Julian. I wish I was still here, but I always love you 4Ever,” and “I love you. You’re always in my heart.”
Other “Ding Dong Ditch” pranks have been fatal in the past. In 2023, a Southern California man was found guilty of first-degree murder Killing three teenage boys By intentionally plunging their car in after they ring his doorbell as a prank.
In May, a Virginia man was charged with double murder in the shooting of an 18-year-old who rang a doorbell while filming the Tiktok video, The New York Times It has been reported.
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Associated Press photographer David J. Phillip contributed to this report.
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Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://x.com/juanlozano70
