📍 Houston, TX — September 2, 2025
An 11-year-old boy was shot and killed Saturday night while playing a doorbell prank known as “ding dong ditch” with friends in East Houston, sparking outrage and renewed calls for restraint in response to juvenile mischief.
The victim, identified as Julián Guzman, was reportedly running away from a home after ringing the doorbell when a man exited the residence and opened fire. Guzman was struck in the back and collapsed on the street. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died the following day.
👮 Suspect Charged
On Monday, Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, was charged with murder in connection with the shooting. Authorities say the boy was at least 20 feet from the house when he was shot, undermining any claim of self-defense. Investigators recovered multiple firearms from the suspect’s home and are considering additional charges, including potential capital murder due to the victim’s age.
💬 “He was doing what 11-year-old boys do,” said Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. “He was playing pranks on the neighbors, and it cost him his life”.
🕯️ Community Mourning
Julián’s mother, Janet Rodriguez, described her son as “affectionate, loving, and always smiling.” In a heartfelt message on a verified GoFundMe page, she wrote, “They took my child, my baby, at such a young age. We had a whole life ahead of us. He didn’t deserve this”.
Neighbors expressed shock and sorrow, with many calling the shooting a tragic overreaction. “It’s very unfortunate to hear that a kid passed away from ding-dong ditching,” said local resident Alfredo Hernandez.
📱 Social Media Challenge Turned Deadly
“Ding dong ditch” pranks—where kids ring doorbells and run away—have surged in popularity through TikTok and other platforms. But recent incidents have turned deadly. In May, a Virginia teen was shot and killed while filming a similar prank for social media. In 2020, a California man was convicted of murder after ramming his car into teens who rang his doorbell.
Houston police continue to investigate, and prosecutors are expected to request a $1 million bond at Leon’s next court appearance.