A tragic incident has unfolded in Houston, Texas, where a 42-year-old man faces serious legal consequences following the shooting of an 11-year-old boy. The boy was shot after he and his friends engaged in a ding-dong-ditch prank late Saturday night, a prank that has gained notoriety on platforms like TikTok and other social media. The suspect, identified as Leon Gonzalo Jr., was arrested on Tuesday morning and is now charged with one count of murder, as confirmed by Harris County court records.
The shooting incident occurred around 10:55 p.m. on Saturday at a residence in southeast Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. Initially, police reported the victim as 10 years old; however, he was later identified as Julian Guzman, aged 11. Tragically, Guzman was pronounced dead at a hospital on Sunday afternoon shortly after the incident.
According to police reports, Guzman and his friends were running around the neighborhood ringing doorbells and running away when the shooting occurred. Witnesses reported seeing the boy fleeing a nearby house just before he was struck by gunfire. It remains unclear whether Gonzalo owned the home where the prank took place or if he was merely a resident.
This incident is part of a larger trend known as the door-kicking challenge, which has gained traction across social media. This challenge involves groups of children engaging in similar antics—recording themselves banging on doors and then fleeing. These videos are often shared on platforms like TikTok, leading to a spate of similar incidents across the country.
Following the shooting, Gonzalo was initially detained by police but was released after questioning. However, after Guzman was pronounced dead at approximately 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, Gonzalo was taken into custody again. Officers executed a search warrant at his residence, uncovering a significant cache of weapons, as stated by police Sgt. Michael Cass during a weekend news conference.
According to Sgt. Cass, the victim was shot in the back while running away from the house where the prank occurred. He managed to run about a block before collapsing in the street. Cass noted that preliminary evidence does not suggest any form of self-defense in this case.
This tragic incident is not isolated. It follows other similar occurrences linked to the door-kicking challenge. In July, a 58-year-old homeowner in Texas was arrested for aggravated assault after reportedly firing at a vehicle that had fled his home following a doorbell ringing. The occupants of the vehicle admitted to participating in the ding-dong-ditch prank.
In another incident in June, police in Chandler, Arizona, released footage of juveniles repeatedly committing the door-kicking challenge, targeting the same house multiple times, which ultimately led the homeowner to relocate.
This is a developing story, and updates will continue to emerge as authorities further investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Julian Guzman. The tragic consequences of this prank highlight the dangers associated with viral challenges on social media.
