Texas | Man Accused of Shooting 11-Year-Old Over Ding-Dong-Ditch Prank Could Face Death Penalty

Gonzalo Leon Jr., 43, was initially charged by prosecutors with murder in connection with the 2025 death of 11-year-old Julian Guzman in Houston, but is now set to stand trial on an upgraded charge of capital murder

A Texas man accused of fatally shooting an 11-year-old boy over a ding-dong-ditch prank could now face the death penalty.

Gonzalo Leon Jr., 43, was initially charged by prosecutors with murder in the connection with the 2025 death of Julian Guzman in Houston, but is now set to stand trial on an upgraded charge of capital murder, according to reports from Houston Public Media, FOX 26 Houston and KHOU-TV.

Leon appeared in court on Friday, May 1, where prosecutors said the charge could result in a death or life sentence without parole. He is being held on $1.5 million bond, KHOU-TV reported.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare described the case as "brutal," saying, "When you have an 11-year-old shot in the back and murdered, I think it's an appropriate bond."

It's unclear if he has entered a plea.

Authorities allege Leon shot the boy on Aug. 30, 2025 after he and his cousin repeatedly knocked on the door of Leon's home and ran away. Guzman died in the hospital the following day.

According to a criminal complaint previously cited by ABC News, Guzman's cousin spoke with investigators, telling them that they had been "bored and wanted to ring doorbells, or play 'ding-dong-ditch.'"

After Guzman was shot, his cousin said that he was "asking for help, believing his legs were paralyzed." As he called out for help, he alleged that Leon "slowly walk[ed] back to the blue house," per the complaint.

According to reporting by KHOU 11, police allege that Leon fired two shots after Guzman and his cousin knocked on his door three times.

The first shot was directed at the ground; however, after the "warning shot," a second shot hit Guzman in the back.

Police Sgt. Michael Cass told the news station back in September that the evidence seemingly does not support a potential self-defense claim, since the shooting "wasn't close to the house."

ABC News also reported, citing authorities, that "at least 20 firearms" were found at Leon's home by police after an investigation.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare previously described the case as "brutal," per KHOU-TV. "One lost a little boy before he even got to start his life; another has a father and husband facing life in prison [because] of one angry act."

According to the Texas penal code, capital murder, a type of criminal homicide, can apply in a case when "the person murders an individual 10 years of age or older but younger than 15 years of age."

Source: people.com, Nicole Acosta, May 5, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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