A man in Houston has been arrested and charged with murder for fatally shooting an 11-year-old boy who was playing a prank by ringing doorbells and running away. The incident occurred late Saturday when the boy, identified as Julian Guzman, engaged in the common childhood prank known as “ding dong ditching.” Tragically, the boy succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.
This unfortunate event sheds light on the dangers of such pranks, as similar incidents have turned deadly in the past. In a separate case in Southern California in 2023, a man was convicted of first-degree murder for intentionally ramming a car carrying teenage boys who had engaged in a similar prank at his home.
Similarly, in May, a Virginia man faced second-degree murder charges for shooting an 18-year-old who rang his doorbell while filming a TikTok video.
It is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of seemingly harmless pranks. The man charged in connection with Julian Guzman’s death is now in custody at the Harris County Jail.