A wedding celebration in St. Louis, Missouri was abruptly interrupted by a violent incident on June 29, 2024. Dulce and Manuel Gonzalez were marking their marriage, an event attended by approximately 50 family and friends in their backyard, when two unidentified gunmen intruded on the gathering.
The evening was progressing peacefully until around 1 a.m. when the two masked individuals made their way into the yard through a shared driveway fence. Witnesses at the scene reported that the armed intruders ordered the attendees to remain still and demanded money. The situation escalated as one of the gunmen began frisking the guests for valuables while the other held Manuel Gonzalez at gunpoint.
One of the gunmen suddenly fired at Manuel, 32, hitting him in the head. Both intruders then fled the scene on foot. Despite their initial demands, the assailants did not take any valuables from the guests, further confounding the motive behind the violent act.
Yaribeth Peña, the sister of the bride, spoke with local news outlets about the incident. “They took nothing, yet they took everything from us,” Peña shared with reporters. “He’s fighting for his life. We are hoping he pulls through.”
Manuel Gonzalez was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition. Despite the gravity of his injuries, the family has noticed some positive signs. “We saw him move his hands,” Peña noted, indicating a potential sign of recovery.
The incident has caused significant distress to the Gonzalez family and their neighbors in the Dutchtown region of St. Louis. Peña, who resides next to her sister and brother-in-law, expressed her concerns regarding their safety. “I feel like we would have to move to feel comfortable,” she stated to the press.
The St. Louis Police Department is actively investigating the incident. To date, no arrests have been made. The authorities are appealing to the community for any information that could assist in identifying the suspects, who are described by witnesses as teenagers.
A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to assist the family with medical costs and the loss of income following Manuel’s injury. The Gonzalez’s have been together for ten years and have two small children.
