A Houston man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy after the victim and his cousin allegedly knocked on the man’s door as part of “ding-dong ditch” prank. 

Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, was taken into custody and charged with murder in connection to the death of Julian Guzman on Racine St., Houston Police announced Tuesday.

According to police, Julian suffered a single gunshot wound on Saturday, August 30 at around 10:55 p.m. after ringing doorbells as part of a childhood prank that has recently gained popularity on TikTok. 

“Officers were told that Guzman was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away,” police said in a statement. “A witness stated Guzman was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound.”

The 11-year-old and his cousin had reportedly been at a birthday party earlier that night when they got bored and decided to play the prank game instead, according to a probable cause affidavit in the case obtained by the Associated Press.

Gonzalo Leon Jr. allegedly fired at Julian Guzman as he ran away

Julian’s cousin told detectives that the pair had knocked on Leon’s door and ran away several times before they saw him come out holding a pistol. Leon allegedly fired a warning shot into the ground and then began firing at the boys as they ran away, court records state.

Julian’s cousin said the 11-year-old “cried out in pain” after being shot in the back and falling to the ground. As the cousin tried to drag Julian to safety, Leon allegedly walked back to his home, according to the affidavit.

“There is no way that little boy was posing a threat… and he was running away on a public street,” Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told KHOU of the allegations. “This is not stand your ground, this is not manslaughter. This is murder.”

Julian Guzman was recording prank at time of shooting

According to the district attorney, Julian was recording the prank on his cell phone at the time of the shooting, which will likely serve as critical evidence as the case moves forward. 

“I unfortunately have had to watch countless recordings and surveillance of people in their last moments,” Teare said. “When you talk about an 11-year-old dying, where we hear it, that’s gonna be just some of the most horrific evidence that I can imagine.”

Teare told CNN that the autopsy report indicated that Julian was at least 20 feet away when he was shot. 

“He was doing what 11-year-old boys do. He was playing pranks on the neighbors, and it cost him his life,” Teare said.

Julian was brought to a hospital, where he died.

More than 20 firearms found at home of Gonzalo Leon Jr.

During a search of Leon’s home, authorities recovered more than 20 firearms, including rifles, hand guns and shotguns, according to the AP.

In the wake of Julian’s death, the community has banded together to create a makeshift memorial at the spot where the 11-year-old fell. One of the messages, seemingly left by his mom and cited by KHOU, read: “I love you Julian you will always be in my heart. Rest in peace baby. Mom.”

Police across the country have warned teens about the danger of the popular prank. In 2023, Anurag Chandra was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder after prosecutors said he intentionally rammed a car of six teens off the road in 2020 after they rang the doorbell at his home and ran away, according to the Associated Press. 

Another teen in Virginia was shot and killed in May after filming a “ding-dong ditch” post for social media, the New York Times reported.