Photo: Houston Police Department
A 42-year-old man, Leon Gonzalo Jr., has been charged with murder following the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy in Houston. The incident occurred on Saturday (August 30) during a "ding dong ditch" prank, a game where individuals ring doorbells and run away. The boy was running away from Gonzalo's house on Racine Street when he was shot. The boy was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead on Sunday (August 31).
Houston police reported that the shooting did not appear to be in self-defense, as it happened away from the house. Gonzalo was booked into jail on Tuesday (September 2), with his address matching the location of the shooting.
This tragic event is the latest in a series of similar incidents linked to the "ding dong ditch" trend, which has gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. In May, an 18-year-old in Virginia was shot and killed during a similar prank, and in 2020, three teenagers in California died after a man rammed their car in retaliation for the prank.
Gonzalo is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday (September 2). The case remains under investigation, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.