Ding Dong Ditch Death

A 42 year old Houston man is facing murder charges in the shooting of an eleven  year old Houston boy in late August after a prank. 

Investigators said a group of children were playing a game of Ding Dong Ditch, a game which involves someone ringing a doorbell or knocking loudly then running away, at a home in the Eastside of Houston when the boy was allegedly shot by Gonzalo Leon Jr. The eleven-year-old boy was later identified as Julian Guzman.  

"Firearms and the use of firearms is not the answer. Whether you're on the freeway getting cut off or you're in your neighborhood angry at a group of kids, you can't utilize a gun, period," Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told reporters after Wednesday's court hearing.

  Leon Jr. was booked into Harris County jail on September 2 in relation to the Saturday night shooting according to jail records. His address reportedly matched where someone fatally shot an eleven year old boy, according to police. 

"Officers were told the male was ringing doorbells of homes in the area and running away," a statement read. "A witness stated the male was running from a house, after ringing the doorbell, just prior to suffering a gunshot wound."

The Houston County police responded to a call  at 10:55 pm on August 30th to a shooting that took place in the 9700 block of Racine Street. The boy was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead on Saturday, the police said. 

“This is a perfect example as to why specific states need stricter gun laws and why gun laws should be passed federally in order to make sure that civilians are safe and protected from incidents as such,” NHS senior Cali Taylor said. 

The shooting did not involve self defense as the shooting was not close to the house, Houston police homicide Sgt. Michael Cass said, according to CNN affiliate KHOU.

Texas state laws permit the carrying of a handgun without a license and are not required by the state to register firearms. 

“It makes you wonder if we should have stricter gun ownership laws regarding trespassers on your property. It’s sad given how much conversation there is about putting guns in the people’s hands, especially people that are licensed, people who had to go through courses and had to get certifications that are still abusing that privilege,” NHS science teacher Alex Pitetti said. 

Court records have revealed that Leon fired more than once after the boys knocked on his door multiple times. 

The victim's cousin told investigators that they were attending a family birthday party, according to a criminal complaint filed in Harris County court. The boys went off on their own to play a game of Ding Dong Ditch. 

The boys knocked on the door of the house, which was later identified as Leon's residence,various times and ran away. The last time the boys played the game the cousin said they saw a man dressed in all black appear from a side gate, holding a pistol and shooting the ground. 

As boys ran down the street the man raised the pistol and fired at them, hitting Guzman in the back. 

Authorities administered a search of the home and recovered 20 firearms, including AR- style rifles, shotguns and medium-caliber pistols. 

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare told Fox 26 Houston that charges could be upgraded to capital murder. 

Leon appeared for a bond hearing on September 3 in District Court. 

“This story is heartbreaking. No one should have to experience the pain of losing a child and I can't imagine what his family is going through while trying to process this senseless loss,” NHS Science teacher Tara Allegretto said.