SAINT LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – A backyard wedding at a St. Louis home turned into a nightmare when two masked gunmen entered the property and shot the groom in the head, police said. Now, Francisco Gonzalez, 32, is fighting for his life in the hospital. The shooting happened early Saturday morning around 1 a.m., after the couple’s Friday night ceremony.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police incident reportsSeveral people were gathered in the backyard when two men wearing balaclavas entered the property and announced a robbery.
Police said that while one of the suspects was going through people’s pockets, the other, armed with two handguns, stood behind Gonzalez with a gun to his head and said: KSDK.
Yaribeth Peña, the bride’s sister, described the terrifying moment. “It was very scary,” she said, explaining how she ran to get help as soon as the masked men entered the backyard. Peña recounted the horror she felt upon hearing the gunshot that hit her new brother-in-law in the head. Gonzalez is now fighting for his life at a local hospital.
The newlyweds have been together for a decade and have two children. “He’s a family man. He loves his kids, they’re everything to him,” Pena said. Surveillance video captured a brief image of the two men walking toward the house and then running away. No arrests have been made.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to help catch the perpetrators of this horrific crime. Police are actively investigating the incident, gathering evidence from the scene and reviewing surveillance footage. They are also conducting interviews with attendees in hopes of identifying suspects.
This shocking event has left the local community in disbelief. Friends and neighbors have supported the Gonzalez family and offered their prayers during this difficult time.
In the wake of this tragedy, the family is focused on Gonzalez’s recovery, hoping for a miracle as he fights for his life. The community remains vigilant, hoping for swift justice and an end to the violence that has marred a celebration of love.
The school included a link to a GoFundMe Account Created to help the family, it has so far raised more than $25,000 of its $50,000 goal. Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477 or online. here.