Groom shot in head during robbery at backyard wedding, police say

ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – A backyard wedding in St. Louis turned into a nightmare when two masked men entered the property and shot the groom in the head, according to police.

Now, 32-year-old Francisco Gonzalez is fighting for his life in the hospital.

The shooting happened early Saturday around 1 a.m. following the couple’s Friday night ceremony.

According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police incident reports, several people were gathered in the backyard when two men wearing ski masks entered the property and announced a robbery.

Police said as one of the suspects was going through peoples’ pockets, the other, armed with two handguns, stood behind Gonzalez with a gun to his head.

Yaribeth Pena, the bride’s sister, said she ran for help the moment the masked men entered the backyard.

“It was very terrifying,” she said.

Pena said she heard the gun go off, and her new brother-in-law was shot in the head.

He’s 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 shot of the two men walking toward the home and then running away. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477 or online here.

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