Military veteran identified as prime suspect in tragic door-knocking incident resulting in the death of an 11-year-old child, confirms army official.
In a tragic turn of events, a 30-year-old man named Gonzalo Leon Jr., a former U.S. Army infantryman, has been charged with first-degree murder following an incident in a southeast Houston neighborhood.
The victim of the shooting was an 11-year-old boy named Julian Guzman, who was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon due to a gunshot wound to the back. The incident occurred during a prank known as "ding dong ditch," where Julian was involved along with his cousin, who was not identified.
Leon, who served in the U.S. Army from August 2013 to December 2016 and achieved the rank of specialist, was initially detained for questioning in the immediate aftermath of the shooting but was later released. However, a SWAT team detained him again as a suspect on Sunday evening.
A search warrant served on Leon's home resulted in the seizure of 20 firearms, including four or five AR-style rifles and a shotgun. It is alleged that the pistol used in the shooting belonged to his wife.
Prosecutor Teare stated that the Texas law known as the Castle Doctrine does not apply to this case. Leon's court-appointed attorney, Gianpaolo Macerola, mentioned that Leon and his family went to a motel in La Porte, about 25 miles from Houston, to avoid the media gathering outside their home.
Macerola also emphasised that Leon served in the U.S. Army and protected the country, which is why he exercised his Second Amendment right to own firearms. He added that Leon was a member of the Texas National Guard until May 2021.
The possibility of more serious charges, including capital murder, was mentioned during the hearing. Judge Emily Detoto of the 177th District Court in Houston ordered Leon to be held on a $1 million bond during a hearing on Wednesday.
It is currently unclear if Gonzalo Leon Jr. was previously involved in other crimes or charged with weapon possession offenses before the incident. The autopsy was performed on Sunday and confirmed the cause of death.
The prank that led to the shooting appears to be similar to a "door-kicking challenge" trending on social media sites, including TikTok. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to be released as the case progresses.
