HOUSTON (TNND) — The man accused of shooting and killing an 11-year-old boy in Houston while he was playing a prank received a $1 million bond on Wednesday.
Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, was charged with murder on Tuesday after he allegedly shot Julian Guzman in the back while he was playing “ding dong ditch.”
Guzman was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead on Sunday.
“Officers were told the male was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away,” a statement from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office read. “A witness stated the male was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound.”
Prosecutors revealed in court that Leon was arrested at a hotel in La Porte with “a large amount” of clothes, which brought about concerns that he was a flight risk, according to KRIV. His defense team noted he was at the hotel due to a large media presence outside his home.
“There’s no other charge to be filed other than murder. And as we go forward in this case, I think that you’ll see when we present this to a grand jury, it will, it will likely become a Capital murder because of the young boy’s age,” Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told CNN.
Leon is reportedly a disabled veteran who served in the Army from 2013-2016, his defense team said.
A report reviewed by KRIV said Guzman and his cousin were playing the prank on Saturday night after a family birthday party. After repeatedly playing “ding dong ditch” at Leon’s home, police said he came out from behind a gate and fired two shots, hitting the ground and Guzman in the back.
The boy was allegedly participating in the “door-kicking challenge,” which has become a national trend of kids recording themselves kicking and banging on doors before running away and then posting the videos on social media.
