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By Holly Yan, Ashley Killough, David Williams, Ed Lavandera, CNN
(CNN) — A Houston man is accused of killing an 11-year-old boy after a “ding dong ditch” prank Saturday – the latest example of a trend that has left children dead.
Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, was charged with murder Monday for the death of 11-year-old Julián Guzman, the city of Houston said Tuesday.
Harris County court records previously identified the suspect as Leon Gonzalo Jr. The suspect was booked into jail Tuesday morning, county records show.
Leon allegedly opened fire on the 11-year-old, whom a witness described as running away from the house when he was shot, according to police.
“Officers were told the male was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away,” police said. “A witness stated the male was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound.”
The shooting did not seem to involve self-defense because the shooting “wasn’t close to the house,” Houston police homicide Sgt. Michael Cass said, according to CNN affiliate KHOU.
The autopsy report indicates the boy was at least 20 feet away when he was shot — far enough not to be a threat, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told CNN.
“He was doing what 11-year-old boys do. He was playing pranks on the neighbors, and it cost him his life,” he said.
Leon made an initial court appearance Tuesday and agreed to have a court-appointed attorney.
When asked whether Leon has been cooperative with investigators, Teare said no, and added he had not given them a statement on the incident.
Prosecutors will request the judge set bond at $1 million at Wednesday morning’s hearing, where Leon is expected to appear again, Teare told CNN. The judge will ultimately decide whether Leon should be allowed to be released on bond.
Prosecutors may also seek a capital murder charge, given the young age of the victim, Teare said.
The prank has led to several deaths
“Ding dong ditching” is an age-old prank that’s risen in popularity in recent years as a social media challenge. TikTok videos often feature variations where pranksters pound on or kick people’s front doors.
In May, an 18-year-old high school senior in Virginia was shot and killed while filming a “ding dong ditch” to post on TikTok, The New York Times reported. The man accused of shooting the teen was charged with second-degree murder.
In 2020, three 16-year-olds were killed when a California man rammed his car into their vehicle in retaliation for a “ding dong ditch” prank. The man was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced in 2023 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In the Houston case, the boy and his friends were playing a game of “ding dong ditch” at a house down the street from their homes just before 11 p.m. Saturday when a person inside the house came out and shot the boy, Houston police said.
Julián was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead Sunday.
Child’s death is ‘a pain I never imagined’
Julián’s mother, Janet Rodriguez, said her son was an “affectionate, loving” boy who was “always smiling.”
“With immense pain in my heart, I share the loss of our son Julián,” Rodriguez wrote in Spanish on a verified GoFundMe page. “He was thoughtful to everyone. He was very loved by many people.”
Rodriguez said her son’s death is “a pain I never imagined feeling.”
“He was just a child. He harmed no one,” 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. We will always love you. It is not a goodbye, but a see you later.”
The victim assistance division in Harris County reached out to the family to help them “navigate what is unquestionably the worst moments of their life,” Teare said.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Jeremy Grisham, Roxanne Garcia, Karina Tsui, Danya Gainor and Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.
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