ST. LOUIS, MO – A wedding night turned horrifying when masked gunmen burst into the backyard reception of a St. Louis couple and shot the groom in the head, resulting in critical injury. The chilling incident took place on Friday during Manuel and Dulce Gonzalez’s wedding ceremony.
Witnesses recount that around 1 a.m. on Saturday, as the reception was winding down, two men wearing ski masks burst into the backyard where the celebration was happening. The attackers allegedly demanded money and warned the guests to remain still. One of the armed assailants then shot Manuel Gonzalez in the head, leaving him critically injured.
The assailants, who fled on foot immediately after the shooting, managed to escape without stealing any money or valuables from the guests. “They took nothing, yet they took everything from us,” lamented Yaribeth Peña, the bride’s sister.
Manuel Gonzalez was promptly rushed to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to support the family during this challenging time.
Police are now investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made yet. The perpetrators are believed to be teenagers, and home surveillance footage shows two figures approaching the house before the incident and running down the road afterward. The family is appealing to the community for any information or footage that might aid in identifying the suspects.