A joyous wedding celebration turned into a nightmare in St. Louis, Missouri on June 29, 2024. Dulce and Manuel Gonzalez, who had just exchanged vows after more than a decade and two children together, were celebrating their union with about 50 close family members and friends in their backyard when two masked gunmen disrupted the festivities.
The night was filled with laughter and love until just before 1 a.m. Saturday when the masked assailants entered the yard through a shared driveway fence. According to witnesses, the gunmen ordered everyone to stay still and demanded money. The situation quickly intensified as one gunman started searching the guests’ pockets while the other stood behind the groom, Manuel Gonzalez.
Tragically, without warning, one of the gunmen shot Manuel, 32, in the head before both fled the scene on foot, leaving the family in shock and despair. No valuables were taken during the robbery, making the violent act even more senseless.
Yaribeth Peña, the bride’s sister, shared her heartbreak with local news outlets, expressing the family’s confusion and grief. “They took nothing, yet they took everything from us,” Peña told the local media. “He’s fighting for his life. We are hoping he pulls through.”
Manuel Gonzalez was rushed to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Despite the severity of his injuries, there have been small signs of hope. “We saw him move his hands,” Peña mentioned, clinging to any positive sign of recovery.
The shooting has left the Gonzalez family and their neighbors in the Dutchtown area of St. Louis deeply shaken. Peña, who lives next door to her sister and brother-in-law, voiced her concerns about their safety. “I feel like we would have to move to feel comfortable,” she told the media.
The St. Louis Police Department is investigating the incident. No arrests have been made at this time. Authorities are urging the community to provide any information that could help identify the suspects, who witnesses describe as teenagers.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the family with medical expenses and the loss of Manuel’s income. By Monday night, the fundraiser had already raised over $18,000.
