Visalia man dies after shooting, saves lives with organs

A man shot at close-range inside his Visalia home has died from injuries suffered late last week.

Manuel Gonzalez, 26, was shot in the head by unknown subjects who entered the home and fired a single round. Gonzalez, the only child to his mother, died early Tuesday morning, but not before saving the lives of several people.

Family and friends said Gonzalez, a Mt. Whitney High School graduate who loved soccer, donated his organs. He decided to become an organ donor after his father died a few years ago and donated his organs.

“Manuel was such a sweetheart, such a good person,” said Maricela Hernandez, a family friend. “He had one son and another baby on the way. He was all about his family.”

Hernandez added that her friend wanted to be just like his father and as many as half a dozen people could benefit from Gonzalez’s organ donation.

Police believe an altercation occurred in the home prior to the shooting, but no suspects have been identified. Violent crimes detectives are working around the clock to bring the shooters to justice. Investigators scoured the area of the 2000 block of North Jacob Court, where the shooting occurred. They’ve also interviewed numerous possible witnesses and those who may shed light on a motive.

The shooting is not believed to be gang-related.

Numerous neighbors said at the time of the shooting there were two men thought to be casing Gonzalez’s home, but police aren’t sure whether it’s related to the shooting.

One neighbor said he was at his friend’s home, next to where he stays with his mother when he saw a suspicious vehicle driving in the area.

The neighbor said he’d never seen the car in the area before and that those inside appeared to be waiting for someone to show up.

Another neighbor said she was watching television in her home when she heard the bellow of gunfire — a single shot, she said.

“I heard a gunshot and walked to the door,” she said. “That's when I saw two guys going crazy.”

Visalia police are asking anyone with information to call detectives at 734-8116.