Texas man indicted on capital murder for allegedly fatally shooting 11-year-old doorbell prankster
05/01/2026 1:00 pm PDT
HOUSTON (TCN) -- A grand jury has upgraded the charge against a 43-year-old man accused of fatally shooting an 11-year-old who was playing a doorbell prank on him last year.
KHOU reports Gonzalo Leon was indicted for capital murder on April 28.
On Aug. 30, 2025, Julian Guzman and his friends were in a Houston, Texas, neighborhood playing ding dong ditch. According to KHOU, Guzman and his friends reportedly knocked on Leon’s door three times over a 15-minute period. After the prank, Leon allegedly hid in the shadows outside his home and then fired a warning shot before allegedly shooting Guzman, who was running away from the scene.
Houston Public Media reports Guzman’s cousin, who was playing the prank with him, later told investigators Leon was wearing all black.
Guzman was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
During the investigation, Leon allegedly refused to answer questions, and when a search warrant was executed at his home, police reportedly found 20 firearms, according to KHOU. Leon was arrested and charged with murder, which the grand jury upgraded to capital murder on April 28.
Per KHOU, if convicted, Leon will face either the death penalty or life in prison.
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