Bianca Seward/Houston Public Media
Gonzalo Leon Jr., a Houston man charged with murder in the shooting death of 11-year-old Julian Guzman, walks into a Harris County courtroom on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.
A Houston man was indicted on a capital murder charge Wednesday for allegedly shooting and killing an 11-year-old boy who was playing a prank, according to court documents.
Gonzalo Leon Jr., 43, was arrested last September and charged with murder in the shooting death of Julian Guzman, 11. Guzman was shot in the back on Aug. 30, 2025, while allegedly playing a “ding dong ditch” prank with a cousin, according to police.
A Harris County grand jury this week elevated the charge to capital murder, which carries a punishment of death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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According to Leon’s arrest affidavit, Guzman’s cousin told police he saw Leon exit the home wearing all black and shoot into the ground once before raising the pistol and shooting Guzman.
AP Photo/David J. Phillip
A makeshift memorial for 11-year-old Julian Guzman, who was shot and killed during a doorbell prank, is shown Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Houston.
Leon has been in the Harris County Jail under a $1.3 million bond since September. He is set to have a bond hearing for his capital murder charge on Friday.
Leon’s defense attorney could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.