A suspect has been charged in the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy who was playing “ding dong ditch” in Harris County, Texas.
Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, was arrested and charged with murder Tuesday in connection with the shooting, the Houston Police Department said. He is now in custody at the Harris County jail. Police also identified the victim as Julian Guzman, who witnesses said was running away from the house when he was shot.
“Officers were told that Guzman was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away,” the police department said. “A witness stated Guzman was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound.”
Guzman was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds. The 11-year-old died on Sunday.
Police initially detained someone at the scene for questioning, who was later released. Investigators also said they seized several rifles and handguns as evidence from the home while executing a search warrant.
Homicide Detective Sgt. Michael Cass told KHOU 11 earlier this week that investigators didn’t think Guzman was shot in self-defense.
“In my opinion, it does not look like any type of self-defense,” Cass said. “It wasn’t close to the house, so it’ll more than likely be a murder charge.”
“Ding dong ditch” is an age-old prank that involves ringing someone’s doorbell or knocking on their door and running away before they answer. The prank has become more popular through social media, including on TikTok.
In May, an 18-year-old in Virginia was also shot and killed while filming a “ding dong ditch” prank for TikTok. Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Butler says he was acting “out of a genuine fear for his safety and the safety of his mother,” according to a statement from his attorneys.
Another Texas man was arrested last month after firing his gun at a group of teenagers attempting the prank, the Frisco Police Department said.
Frisco Police Chief David Shilson warned that parents should talk to their children about the dangers of ding dong ditching.
“The teens involved in this case are very fortunate they were not shot and killed or seriously injured,” he said in a statement. “For homeowners, it is important to understand that there are legal and criminal consequences for running outside and shooting at a vehicle fleeing the scene.”
