Topline: Police say the suspect was “waiting in the shadows” before opening fire on the fleeing boy.
Published: September 4, 2025 11:00 am ET
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Gonzalo Leon Jr., left, (via Houston Police) and Julian Guzman (via GoFundMe)
HOUSTON, TX — An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed after playing a doorbell prank in a Houston neighborhood Saturday night, and the man accused of pulling the trigger is now charged with murder.
According to Houston police, Gonzalo Leon Jr. was “waiting in the shadows” outside his home late Saturday night when Julian Guzman, an elementary school student, and his 10-year-old cousin knocked on his door for the third time in 15 minutes and ran off—part of a game of “ding-dong ditch.”
The boys had been attending a family birthday party about a block away and decided to prank homes in the Clinton Park neighborhood after getting bored, the Houston Chronicle reported.
As the boys fled down the sidewalk, Leon allegedly opened fire. Police say he first fired a warning shot into the ground, then aimed at the children. Julian was struck in the back and collapsed. His cousin, in a moment he later described as surreal, tried to drag Julian to safety and called for help. The boy was rushed to a hospital but died the following day.
Houston Police Sgt. Michael Cass, the lead detective on the case, told CBS News that Leon had been positioned behind a fence in his side yard, waiting for the boys to return.
“They appeared as children, not threatening in any way,” Cass said. Julian was filming the prank on his phone, and the video—now part of the prosecution’s evidence—reportedly captures the door knock, the sound of gunfire, and the boy gasping as he falls.
The case has triggered national outrage and sparked renewed debate over gun laws and self-defense claims. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare was unequivocal in his assessment.
“This is not a castle doctrine case,” he said, referring to the Texas law that allows homeowners to use deadly force against intruders in certain circumstances. “There’s no evidence Julian had weapons. He didn’t steal anything. This was kids being kids—an 11-year-old knocking on a door and running away.”
Leon, who appeared in court Wednesday shackled and silent, was denied an initial bond and later given a $1 million bond by Judge DeToto in Harris County’s 177th District Court. Prosecutors argued for the high amount, citing the gravity of the charge and the alleged circumstances. “When you have an 11-year-old shot in the back and murdered, I think it’s an appropriate bond,” Teare said.
Defense attorney statements painted a different picture. Leon, a disabled Army veteran and father of a toddler, was not trying to flee the scene, his attorney claimed, but had checked into a La Quinta Inn in La Porte with his family to escape intense media attention. The defense framed the shooting as a “tragic accident,” not an execution, and challenged the notion that Julian’s cellphone video clearly proves intent to kill.
Still, investigators found more than 20 firearms in Leon’s home after the shooting—including AR-style rifles, pistols, shotguns, and military-style equipment like tactical and smoke grenades. “Looked like he may have been a collector,” Sgt. Cass said. According to court records, Leon had no prior criminal history in Harris County and had lived at the Mimbrough Street residence for nearly five years. He worked as a vice president at a taqueria in Houston’s East End.
As details emerged, prosecutors signaled that the case could still evolve. Assistant District Attorney John Brewer said additional charges, including capital murder, remain on the table pending further review of evidence before the case reaches a grand jury. Brewer noted that Julian’s cellphone footage and the cousin’s eyewitness account were crucial but acknowledged that not all elements of the investigation are conclusive.
At the site of the shooting, a growing memorial stands as a painful reminder of what was lost. Handwritten messages and flowers surround a white wooden cross. One note, left by Julian’s mother, reads: “I love you Julian, you will always be in my heart. Rest in peace, baby. – Mom.”
Neighbors have expressed disbelief. “What harm could they have done? Playing with a doorbell? That’s the part that really kind of hurts the heart,” one resident told KHOU 11. Another added, “Kids are just being kids. I feel like we’ve all played these ding-dong ditch games.”
Julian’s cousin told investigators he wishes he could have done more. “I didn’t know what to do,” he said, describing how he tried to help after the shots rang out.
Leon was arrested Tuesday morning after police used a PA system to call him out of his home. According to charging documents, he asked for a lawyer and has not spoken to authorities since.
Leon is scheduled to return to court on October 21. Prosecutors say their review of the evidence is ongoing. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been launched to support the Guzman family as they mourn the loss of a boy remembered for his energy, kindness, and a smile that “lit up every room.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Police say the suspect was “waiting in the shadows” before opening fire on the fleeing boy.
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Published: September 4, 2025 11:00 am ET
Gonzalo Leon Jr., left, (via Houston Police) and Julian Guzman (via GoFundMe)
HOUSTON, TX — An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed after playing a doorbell prank in a Houston neighborhood Saturday night, and the man accused of pulling the trigger is now charged with murder.
According to Houston police, Gonzalo Leon Jr. was “waiting in the shadows” outside his home late Saturday night when Julian Guzman, an elementary school student, and his 10-year-old cousin knocked on his door for the third time in 15 minutes and ran off—part of a game of “ding-dong ditch.”
The boys had been attending a family birthday party about a block away and decided to prank homes in the Clinton Park neighborhood after getting bored, the Houston Chronicle reported.
As the boys fled down the sidewalk, Leon allegedly opened fire. Police say he first fired a warning shot into the ground, then aimed at the children. Julian was struck in the back and collapsed. His cousin, in a moment he later described as surreal, tried to drag Julian to safety and called for help. The boy was rushed to a hospital but died the following day.
Houston Police Sgt. Michael Cass, the lead detective on the case, told CBS News that Leon had been positioned behind a fence in his side yard, waiting for the boys to return.
“They appeared as children, not threatening in any way,” Cass said. Julian was filming the prank on his phone, and the video—now part of the prosecution’s evidence—reportedly captures the door knock, the sound of gunfire, and the boy gasping as he falls.
The case has triggered national outrage and sparked renewed debate over gun laws and self-defense claims. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare was unequivocal in his assessment.
“This is not a castle doctrine case,” he said, referring to the Texas law that allows homeowners to use deadly force against intruders in certain circumstances. “There’s no evidence Julian had weapons. He didn’t steal anything. This was kids being kids—an 11-year-old knocking on a door and running away.”
Leon, who appeared in court Wednesday shackled and silent, was denied an initial bond and later given a $1 million bond by Judge DeToto in Harris County’s 177th District Court. Prosecutors argued for the high amount, citing the gravity of the charge and the alleged circumstances. “When you have an 11-year-old shot in the back and murdered, I think it’s an appropriate bond,” Teare said.
Defense attorney statements painted a different picture. Leon, a disabled Army veteran and father of a toddler, was not trying to flee the scene, his attorney claimed, but had checked into a La Quinta Inn in La Porte with his family to escape intense media attention. The defense framed the shooting as a “tragic accident,” not an execution, and challenged the notion that Julian’s cellphone video clearly proves intent to kill.
Still, investigators found more than 20 firearms in Leon’s home after the shooting—including AR-style rifles, pistols, shotguns, and military-style equipment like tactical and smoke grenades. “Looked like he may have been a collector,” Sgt. Cass said. According to court records, Leon had no prior criminal history in Harris County and had lived at the Mimbrough Street residence for nearly five years. He worked as a vice president at a taqueria in Houston’s East End.
As details emerged, prosecutors signaled that the case could still evolve. Assistant District Attorney John Brewer said additional charges, including capital murder, remain on the table pending further review of evidence before the case reaches a grand jury. Brewer noted that Julian’s cellphone footage and the cousin’s eyewitness account were crucial but acknowledged that not all elements of the investigation are conclusive.
At the site of the shooting, a growing memorial stands as a painful reminder of what was lost. Handwritten messages and flowers surround a white wooden cross. One note, left by Julian’s mother, reads: “I love you Julian, you will always be in my heart. Rest in peace, baby. – Mom.”
Neighbors have expressed disbelief. “What harm could they have done? Playing with a doorbell? That’s the part that really kind of hurts the heart,” one resident told KHOU 11. Another added, “Kids are just being kids. I feel like we’ve all played these ding-dong ditch games.”
Julian’s cousin told investigators he wishes he could have done more. “I didn’t know what to do,” he said, describing how he tried to help after the shots rang out.
Leon was arrested Tuesday morning after police used a PA system to call him out of his home. According to charging documents, he asked for a lawyer and has not spoken to authorities since.
Leon is scheduled to return to court on October 21. Prosecutors say their review of the evidence is ongoing. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been launched to support the Guzman family as they mourn the loss of a boy remembered for his energy, kindness, and a smile that “lit up every room.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
11-Year-Old Shot Dead While Playing Ding Dong Ditch; Shooter Charged With Murder
Police say the suspect was “waiting in the shadows” before opening fire on the fleeing boy.
By Jacob Charles
Published: September 4, 2025 11:00 am ET
Gonzalo Leon Jr., left, (via Houston Police) and Julian Guzman (via GoFundMe)
HOUSTON, TX — An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed after playing a doorbell prank in a Houston neighborhood Saturday night, and the man accused of pulling the trigger is now charged with murder.
According to Houston police, Gonzalo Leon Jr. was “waiting in the shadows” outside his home late Saturday night when Julian Guzman, an elementary school student, and his 10-year-old cousin knocked on his door for the third time in 15 minutes and ran off—part of a game of “ding-dong ditch.”
The boys had been attending a family birthday party about a block away and decided to prank homes in the Clinton Park neighborhood after getting bored, the Houston Chronicle reported.
As the boys fled down the sidewalk, Leon allegedly opened fire. Police say he first fired a warning shot into the ground, then aimed at the children. Julian was struck in the back and collapsed. His cousin, in a moment he later described as surreal, tried to drag Julian to safety and called for help. The boy was rushed to a hospital but died the following day.
Houston Police Sgt. Michael Cass, the lead detective on the case, told CBS News that Leon had been positioned behind a fence in his side yard, waiting for the boys to return.
“They appeared as children, not threatening in any way,” Cass said. Julian was filming the prank on his phone, and the video—now part of the prosecution’s evidence—reportedly captures the door knock, the sound of gunfire, and the boy gasping as he falls.
The case has triggered national outrage and sparked renewed debate over gun laws and self-defense claims. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare was unequivocal in his assessment.
“This is not a castle doctrine case,” he said, referring to the Texas law that allows homeowners to use deadly force against intruders in certain circumstances. “There’s no evidence Julian had weapons. He didn’t steal anything. This was kids being kids—an 11-year-old knocking on a door and running away.”
Leon, who appeared in court Wednesday shackled and silent, was denied an initial bond and later given a $1 million bond by Judge DeToto in Harris County’s 177th District Court. Prosecutors argued for the high amount, citing the gravity of the charge and the alleged circumstances. “When you have an 11-year-old shot in the back and murdered, I think it’s an appropriate bond,” Teare said.
Defense attorney statements painted a different picture. Leon, a disabled Army veteran and father of a toddler, was not trying to flee the scene, his attorney claimed, but had checked into a La Quinta Inn in La Porte with his family to escape intense media attention. The defense framed the shooting as a “tragic accident,” not an execution, and challenged the notion that Julian’s cellphone video clearly proves intent to kill.
Still, investigators found more than 20 firearms in Leon’s home after the shooting—including AR-style rifles, pistols, shotguns, and military-style equipment like tactical and smoke grenades. “Looked like he may have been a collector,” Sgt. Cass said. According to court records, Leon had no prior criminal history in Harris County and had lived at the Mimbrough Street residence for nearly five years. He worked as a vice president at a taqueria in Houston’s East End.
As details emerged, prosecutors signaled that the case could still evolve. Assistant District Attorney John Brewer said additional charges, including capital murder, remain on the table pending further review of evidence before the case reaches a grand jury. Brewer noted that Julian’s cellphone footage and the cousin’s eyewitness account were crucial but acknowledged that not all elements of the investigation are conclusive.
At the site of the shooting, a growing memorial stands as a painful reminder of what was lost. Handwritten messages and flowers surround a white wooden cross. One note, left by Julian’s mother, reads: “I love you Julian, you will always be in my heart. Rest in peace, baby. – Mom.”
Neighbors have expressed disbelief. “What harm could they have done? Playing with a doorbell? That’s the part that really kind of hurts the heart,” one resident told KHOU 11. Another added, “Kids are just being kids. I feel like we’ve all played these ding-dong ditch games.”
Julian’s cousin told investigators he wishes he could have done more. “I didn’t know what to do,” he said, describing how he tried to help after the shots rang out.
Leon was arrested Tuesday morning after police used a PA system to call him out of his home. According to charging documents, he asked for a lawyer and has not spoken to authorities since.
Leon is scheduled to return to court on October 21. Prosecutors say their review of the evidence is ongoing. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been launched to support the Guzman family as they mourn the loss of a boy remembered for his energy, kindness, and a smile that “lit up every room.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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