Police have seized at least 20 firearms, including several AR-style rifles, from the home of a Texas man charged with the murder of an 11-year-old boy. The boy was shot after he and his cousin played a prank known as "ding dong ditch." The suspect, 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr., was ordered to be held on a $1 million bond during a court hearing on Wednesday.

Judge Emily Detoto of the 177th District Court in Houston set the high bond due to the potential for more serious charges, including capital murder. "Firearms and the use of firearms is not the answer. Whether you're on the freeway getting cut off or you're in your neighborhood angry at a group of kids, you can't utilize a gun, period," said Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare after the hearing.

The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. on Saturday in a southeast Houston neighborhood. According to court documents, Julian Guzman and his cousin were playing a prank when they knocked on Leon's door and ran away. The prank is similar to a trending social media challenge where kids record themselves banging on doors before fleeing.

Julian's cousin, who was not named in court records, told investigators they had been at a birthday party before deciding to play the prank. After knocking on Leon's door, the cousin reported hearing a gunshot and saw Julian collapse, believing his legs were paralyzed. The cousin described seeing a person in black shoot again before the shooter returned to the house.

Julian was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon. An autopsy revealed he died from a gunshot wound to the back. Leon, who lives with his wife and young child, was initially detained for questioning but was released. He was later arrested by a SWAT team at a hotel outside Houston as the investigation progressed.

Leon declined to speak to police and requested an attorney. He was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday. Following the charge, police executed a search warrant at Leon's home, where they found 20 firearms, including four or five AR-style rifles and a shotgun. The firearms were located in a small closet near the front door, along with a pistol believed to belong to Leon's wife.

Teare emphasized that the Castle Doctrine, which allows for the use of lethal force in self-defense, does not apply in this case. "We have an 11-year-old little boy who was running away and was shot in the back. This was an intentional and knowing murder," he stated.

During the court hearing, prosecutors argued for the high bond, citing concerns that Leon might flee. They noted that he and his family left their home with a significant amount of clothing after the shooting and were found at a motel in La Porte, about 25 miles from Houston. Leon's attorney, Gianpaolo Macerola, countered that the family went to the motel to avoid media attention. "I know that he's innocent until proven guilty based on the Constitution," Macerola said.