A 42-year-old man has been charged with murder following a tragic shooting that left an 11-year-old boy dead in Houston on Saturday. This incident marks yet another alarming outcome linked to a popular TikTok trend that has resulted in the deaths of children across the United States. According to Harris County court records, the suspect, Leon Gonzalo Jr., was booked into jail on Tuesday morning.
The shooting occurred at a residence that matches Gonzalo Jr.'s address, where someone opened fire at the young boy. Witnesses reported that the child was running away from the house when he was shot. Houston police stated, “Officers were told the male was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away.” A witness elaborated, saying the boy was running from a house after ringing the doorbell just before he suffered a gunshot wound.
According to Houston police homicide Sgt. Michael Cass, the shooting does not appear to involve self-defense, as it “wasn’t close to the house.” The identity of the young victim has not been publicly disclosed. Leon Gonzalo Jr. is expected to appear in court on Tuesday to face the charges.
The prank known as “ding dong ditching” has gained popularity in recent years, particularly as a social media challenge. On platforms like TikTok, videos often showcase variations of the prank where individuals aggressively knock or kick on people’s front doors. Unfortunately, this trend has also led to several tragic incidents. In May, an 18-year-old high school senior in Virginia was shot and killed while attempting to film a “ding dong ditch” for TikTok. The accused shooter in that case has been charged with second-degree murder.
In a more severe incident from 2020, three 16-year-olds were killed when a California man retaliated against them by ramming his vehicle into their car, also as revenge for a “ding dong ditch” prank. The perpetrator was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2023.
In the recent Houston case, the boy and his friends were engaged in a game of “ding dong ditch” at a house just down the street from their homes shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday. Reports indicate that a resident of the house emerged and shot the boy as he was fleeing after ringing the doorbell. He was subsequently transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead the following day.
This story is still developing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Karina Tsui, Danya Gainor, and David Williams.
