HOUSTON, Texas — A 42-year-old man has been arrested on murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing an 11-year-old boy who was playing a “ding dong ditch” prank over the weekend.
Authorities say Leon Gonzalo Jr. opened fire outside his home late Saturday night after the child rang his doorbell and ran away. Witnesses reported the boy was fleeing the property when Gonzalo allegedly pulled the trigger.
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Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but the boy — whose name has not yet been released — was pronounced dead.
On Tuesday morning, investigators confirmed Gonzalo was taken into custody without incident. Police said his home matched the location where the shooting occurred, directly tying him to the crime.
The tragedy has left the Houston community in grief and disbelief, with many questioning how a harmless childhood prank could end so violently.
Gonzalo remains in custody on a murder charge, and detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.