A newly married man has been left fighting for his life after masked gunmen appeared at his wedding and shot him in the head.
It was supposed to be the best day of their lives for parents Dulce and Manuel Gonzalez, who had been in a relationship for a decade and welcomed two children together.
On Friday (28 June), the day finally came for the pair to tie the knot, which they did in a simple wedding ceremony held at their home in St Louis.
The couple welcomed around 50 family members to join in the celebration on the 3800 block of Neosho in the city's Dutchtown neighborhood, and they continued the party into the night.
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After midnight, the remaining guests were simply hanging out in the backyard of the home and chatting when two armed men in ski masks suddenly entered the yard and told them not to move.
The bride's sister, Yaribeth Peña, managed to run inside, but as she did she heard a gun go off.
Police later determined that one of the masked men had started going through people's pockets while the other stood behind the groom, 32-year-old Manuel, while holding his gun.
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The gunman pulled the trigger and shot Manuel in the head, leaving him in critical condition.
The sister of the bride, Yaribeth Peña, told KSDK-TV the groom is now fighting for his life.
"We are hoping he pulls through," she said. "(My sister) is distraught, she’s depressed, she’s heartbroken. They were saying my brother-in-law was going for his wallet and maybe they thought he was going for a weapon."
After the shooting, the two men ran away with nothing.
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No arrests have been made in the case at the time of writing (2 July), but Peña expressed belief the suspects may have been teenagers.
The sister lives right next door to Dulce and Manuel's home, and is now concerned for the safety of those in the area.
"I feel like we would have to move to feel comfortable. I would like for the community to help us locate these suspects," she said.
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As he remains in hospital, Peña's father said Manuel has made some hand movements, which has given the family some hope.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support the family as Manuel remains in hospital.
"We need prayers that he will come through this," the page reads. "In the meantime, the family will need help with expenses, including medical bills and the loss of his income. Any support that can be afforded to this sweet family will be greatly appreciated."
Topics: Community, Crime, Health, US News, Weddings, Gun Crime
Emily Brown