Crime
Leon Gonzalo Jr charged with murder in shooting death of 11-year-old Julian Guzman while playing Ding-Dong Ditch Prank
HOUSTON, Texas — A Houston man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of 11-year-old Julian Guzman, who was killed while playing a neighborhood prank over the weekend.
According to court records, 42-year-old Leon Gonzalo Jr. has been formally charged with murder.
His bond has not yet been set, and he is scheduled to make his first court appearance this morning.
The shooting occurred just before 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in the 9700 block of Mimbrough near Fidelity Street in east Harris County.
Investigators say Guzman and several friends were playing a game commonly known as “ding dong ditch,” in which children ring a doorbell or knock on a door and then run away.
Police report that after the group rang the doorbell at a residence on Mimbrough, a man came outside and opened fire as the children fled.
Guzman was struck by gunfire and collapsed about a block away.
He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.
Authorities initially detained a man at the scene for questioning before releasing him.
Following Guzman’s death, the suspect was taken into custody again on Sunday for further investigation, which led to formal charges being filed.
The case remains under active investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.