ST. LOUIS – A night of celebration in Dutchtown quickly turned to tragedy as gunmen tore apart a decade-long relationship between a newly married couple.
The union of Manuel and Dulce Gonzalez began beautifully, full of love and joy. The intimate party in the 3800 block of Neosho Street lasted well into the night, celebrating with their tight-knit family.
Interruption of Joy
Just before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, two masked gunmen entered the party through the driveway fence shared by the bride and her sister. Within 30 seconds, they yelled for no one to move, demanded money from the backyard guests, then brandished guns and shot the groom in the head several times.
Both suspects fled on foot without taking any of the family’s possessions or money.
Yaribeth Pena, the bride’s sister, emotionally recalled, “They took nothing, yet they took everything from us.”
An Unthinkable Act
The 32-year-old groom was rushed to the hospital and is listed in critical condition. The family is grappling with their new reality.
Pena further emphasized, “He’s a good father. A good husband to my sister. He’s a hard worker… He didn’t deserve this.”
Plea for Justice
As of Sunday afternoon, police detectives have yet to collect all evidence at the scene or interview all witnesses. The family urges anyone who might have footage or information about the gunmen to turn it into authorities.
Ongoing Investigation
Police say the investigation is still ongoing and encourage anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
Community Support
The family is overwhelmed by the compassion and support they’ve received from the community during this time. A family friend has created a GoFundMe to raise money for Dulce’s needs.
The tragic incident echoes concerns shared by LPSCC Executive Director Abbey Stamp, who recently stated, “We are all at a point of real and true challenges about how to manage some crises in the communities, whether it’s about behavioral health, hospital systems, housing, violence, poverty.”
Follow Us
