A Houston neighborhood is reeling after 11-year-old Julian Guzman was shot while playing a door-knocking prank. Police say homeowner Leon Gonzalo Jr., 42, opened fire as children ran from his house Saturday night.

Julian was struck in the back and later died in the hospital. His grieving mother said, “My child, my baby, was stolen from me. He didn’t deserve it.” Friends described Julian as loving, affectionate, and “always smiling.”

Authorities seized rifles and handguns from Gonzalo’s home. Legal experts say self-defense is unlikely because the children posed no threat. A neighbor admitted she warned the kids earlier, but locals remain stunned. One resident said, “What harm could they have done? It hurts the heart.”

Community fundraisers and a GoFundMe have already raised thousands to support Julian’s family. His tragic death has renewed debates about guns, safety, and the dangers children face today.

This heartbreaking story reminds us how quickly lives can be shattered—and why protecting children must always come first.