David J. Phillip/AP
Julián Guzman’s makeshift memorial.
The community in Houston, Texas, is mourning after the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy, later identified as Julián Guzman. The incident, which started as a simple game of ding-dong-ditch, ended in devastating violence and has left Julián’s classmates, friends, and family in deep sadness.
Local authorities report that Guzman and his cousin were attending a family birthday party around 11 p.m. on the day of the shooting, leaving out of boredom and wanting to have fun, when the suspect and resident of the home they pranked, Gonzalo Leon Jr., a veteran from the U.S. Army, left his home after they knocked on his door multiple times and shot at them twice. One bullet hit the ground, and another went straight into Guzman’s back, causing him to collapse to the ground and scream in pain, according to a statement provided to police by Guzman’s 10-year-old cousin. His cousin told police that he didn’t know what to do, so he tried to pick him up based on what he saw in movies. He was then escorted to a hospital, but sadly passed away the next day after succumbing to his gunshot wound while being treated, based on information from a local police detective.
The suspect was later apprehended by a SWAT team at a hotel in La Porte, Texas, about 20 miles away from his home, reportedly to avoid the excessive media presence, his attorney said. Leon’s home was searched, and around 20 weapons were found, which included an assortment of AR-style rifles as well as handguns, tactical and smoke grenades, leading investigators to suspect he was a firearms collector. He
was later detained and charged with Guzman’s murder, with his bond set at $1 million. This comes amid a recent increase in popularity of ding-dong-ditch pranks on social media platforms like TikTok, which have been going viral. A similar incident happened in the past, when three 16-year-olds were tragically killed when their vehicle was rammed by a man retaliating against them after they ding-dong-ditched his home in 2020.
Guzman’s obituary said he was known for his “bright smile, playful spirit and the joy he brought into every room he entered,” and he enjoyed playing soccer, video games, and cooking. He was referred to affectionately as a “ladies’ man” who was kind, had a sense of humor, and a big heart. Services for him were held, and Guzman was laid to rest late last week on September 6. A makeshift memorial was created near the site of the in
cident, where mourners left gifts and messages. The local community continues to grieve his unfortunate passing.
Sources: CNN, CBS News, Guzman’s obituary