ST. LOUIS — The groom shot this past weekend during his wedding reception in the city's Dutchtown neighborhood remains in ICU, his family said Monday.
Festivities had largely ended when the shooting happened just after 1 a.m. Saturday in the 3800 block of Neosho Street. But about a dozen people remained in the backyard of the couple's home, where the wedding was held.
The last attendees were drinking, talking and enjoying the DJ when two men with guns and ski masks ran into the yard and held the groom, 32-year-old Manuel Gonzalez, at gunpoint, claiming they were going to rob the party. They didn’t take anything, the family said, but they shot Gonzalez twice in the head before running away.
“At first I thought it was a joke,” said Yaribeth Pena, sister of the bride, Dulce Gonzalez. “I never thought something like this would happen to us.”
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The Gonzalezes met through mutual friends about 10 years ago. They have two children together — a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy.
They decided to wed this past weekend at the couple's home, and several family members described the ceremony as beautiful and intimate.
Nieces did the bride's hair and makeup, set up tables, and helped prepare the yard for the party. The couple didn't have bridesmaids or groomsmen, but they were surrounded by family and friends.
“It was perfect,” Yaribeth Pena said.
One of the bride's nieces, Jennifer Pena, said Manuel was scheduled to work on Saturday, so he wasn't planning to be out too late on the night of the wedding.
“He’s a family man. He doesn’t mind doing anything for anybody,” she said. “He never missed a party; he was always present.”
Another niece, Karina Gonzalez, said she left just 20 minutes before the gunmen showed up.
“We said our goodbyes, we got home and I washed my face — then my aunt called me,” she said.
Karina left her home to drive Dulce Gonzalez to the hospital. She said Monday her aunt was scared and in shock during the drive.
Dulce Gonzalez has remained at the ICU with her husband since early Saturday.
The family remains optimistic about his recovery.
“My grandpa said he moved his hand a little, which is a good sign,” said Jennifer Pena. “He’s getting better, and he’s fighting for his life, and for his family.”
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