11-Year-Old Julian Guzman Killed by Houston Man After Doorbell Prank Ends in Tragedy
The Night It Happened: August 30 on Mimbrough Street
Julian was attending a birthday party with his 10-year-old cousin in the 9700 block of Mimbrough Street when the kids started doing what kids do—ringing doorbells and running, according to KLTV. That innocent prank turned deadly when they knocked on Leon’s door.
According to the Houston Police Department (HPD), Leon allegedly waited in ambush, “lurking in the shadows behind a fence,” before he opened fire on the kids as they ran away—striking Julian from behind.
He was rushed to the hospital but tragically died the next day, on August 31, from his injuries.
Arrest & $1 Million Bail
After the shooting, Leon disappeared—but was arrested September 2 at a La Porte motel, where he had allegedly moved due to media attention. Prosecutors made it clear this was not self-defense, stating no threat occurred near the doorway of the home.
During Leon’s first court appearance on September 3, a judge set his bond at $1 million, citing the murder of a minor as grounds for a potential capital murder charge—which in Texas carries life without parole.
