A Missouri couple’s wedding night turned into a nightmare when masked gunmen burst into their backyard reception venue, botched an armed robbery and shot the groom in the head in front of the bride and guests.
Manuel and Dulce Gonzalez, who have been together for more than 10 years and are already parents to two young children, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on Friday in the backyard of their St. Louis home with about 50 of their closest friends and family in attendance, Fox 2 Now reported. report Monday.
However, the day meant to celebrate the couple’s love takes a heartbreaking turn.
Police told the outlet that around 1 a.m. on Saturday, two men wearing ski masks and carrying guns forced their way into the backyard, yelling at customers not to move and demanding money.
As one of the ruthless criminals began rummaging through the guests’ pockets, the other stood behind the groom and pointed a gun at him.
Then, without any warning, the vicious thug shot Manuel Gonzalez in the head in front of his closest family and friends, according to Fox 2 Now.
After shots rang out, the two men fled on foot without stealing any money or items from the customers.
“They took nothing from us, but they took everything from us,” the bride’s sister, Yarives Peña, told the outlet.
The groom, 32, was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with serious condition. GoFundMe I prepared it for my family.
Peña, who ran inside the house as the men forced their way into the backyard, said the incident unfolded in about 30 seconds before her brother-in-law was shot.
“I didn’t witness him getting shot. I heard the gunshots as I was running through the house,” she said. KSDK.
As her family reels from the senseless act of violence that tarnished a day that should have been a celebration of love, she suspects armed robbers shot her brother-in-law “while he was trying to steal my wallet.”
“Maybe they thought he was going for a weapon,” Peña said.
She said she believes the suspects are two teenagers, one of whom is shorter than the other.
Get Ring Doorbell Footage KSDK Footage taken from the couple’s home shows two suspects approaching the house before the attempted robbery, shooting Manuel Gonzalez and then fleeing down the road.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The Post has reached out to St. Louis Metropolitan Police for developments in the case.
Manuel Gonzalez’s father-in-law told the outlet on Monday that his son-in-law has started to move his hands since being hospitalized but remains in critical condition.
Peña said her sister is “distraught” about what happened to her husband.
“She is depressed and heartbroken,” Peña said.
“He’s fighting for his life and we’re hopeful he will survive.”
Her sister-in-law described Manuel Gonzalez as a “good father” who respected her sister and was known as a hard-working family man.
“He was a really good guy and I don’t think this should have happened to him,” Peña told Fox 2 Now about his brother-in-law.
Peña, who lives next door to her sister and brother-in-law, said she fears for her family’s safety because a violent criminal remains at large.
“I feel like I have to move to feel safe,” she told media, pleading with local residents to help her family find the suspect.
The family is also appealing for anyone with information or Ringdoor video that may have shown a glimpse of the suspect to come forward.
