Judge denies bond reduction for Houston 'ding-dong ditch' shooting suspect

Houston 'ding-dong ditch' shooting suspect denied lowered bond

FOX 26's Sherman Desselle shares what happened in court for a Houston man accused of killing an 11-year-old after a "ditch-dong ditch" prank.

Houston - A Harris County judge on Thursday denied a request to lower the bond for Gonzalo Leon Jr., the 42-year-old man accused of fatally shooting an 11-year-old boy following a "ding-dong ditch" prank last August.

Houston ‘ding-dong ditch’ shooting

The backstory:

Leon Jr. is accused of fatally shooting 11-year-old Julian Guzman outside his east Harris County home.

Authorities say Guzman and his cousin were playing "ding-dong-ditch" after a family birthday. They allegedly knocked on Leon's door and ran away multiple times.

On the last attempt, investigators say Leon came from behind a gate and fired two shots: one into the ground, and another that struck Guzman.

Guzman was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died the next day.

Houston 'ding dong ditch' shooting: Allegations against suspect

A man is being held on a million-dollar bond for allegedly shooting and killing an 11-year-old boy who was playing "ding dong ditch." FOX 26's Jillian Hartmann recaps the accusations against the alleged shooter.

Latest court appearance

Leon appeared in the 177th District Court with a noticeably different appearance than his previous hearings, having grown out his hair while in custody. 

His defense team argued for his bond to be reduced from $1.3 million to $500,000, painting a picture of a man whose life has been "uprooted" since the incident.

The Defense’s Case

What they're saying:

Defense attorney Gianpaolo Macerola and his team pleaded for leniency, emphasizing Leon's background: Leon is a disabled veteran who served in combat. Before his arrest, he was working as a manager at a local taquería.

The defense stated that Leon’s wife and children had been severely impacted financially and were forced to move out of their home. Attorneys argued that Leon has zero likelihood of re-offending if released.

The Prosecution’s Stand

The other side:

Prosecutors remained firm on the high bond, focusing on the brutal nature of the crime—the death of 11-year-old Julian Guzman. The victim's family was present in the courtroom today but reportedly left the room as soon as Leon was brought in.

Judge Emily DeToto ultimately denied the reduction, pointing to court documents that indicate Leon was fleeing arrest at the time he was taken into custody. Leon was originally found by a SWAT team at a hotel in La Porte with a packed car shortly after the shooting.

What’s Next?

While Leon currently faces charges of Murder, Injury to a Child, and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, the State indicated they may still seek to upgrade the primary charge to Capital Murder given the age of the victim.