Friends, family and colleagues gathered at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in southwest Houston to honor a doctor killed at his Austin County ranch, KPRC Local 2 reported Saturday.
The funeral mass celebrated the life of Dr. J. Mario Gonzalez, who was shot to death a week ago.
At the age of 56, Gonzalez was celebrating a fulfilling career and the joys of fatherhood. He and his wife were busy with their 18-month-old son and expecting another child later this year.
The couple married in 2008 at their ranch in Belleville, a place where Gonzalez loved to be. It was much more than a hobby. It was his passion to work on the land, mulching and planting trees.
The beloved spot is also the place where Gonzalez was taken by surprise by three masked and armed men.
"We believe as soon as the doctor saw the first suspect, he reacted defensively. He quickly entered the property and obtained his handgun," said Capt. Freeman Martin with the Texas Rangers.
Two men so far have been charged with murder. Cristobal Galvan Cerna, 23, and Moises Galvan Cerna, 18. Their brother is Gonzalez's ranch hand who was on the 30-acre property when the shooting took place.
The ranch hand was also shot and is recovering in the hospital. Investigators confirmed to Local 2 that he is cooperating with the investigation.
Gonzalez's wife called 911 for help while keeping their 18-month-old safe.
A Belleville police officer responded to the property and caught two vehicles on surveillance. One was a white pickup truck and the other was a red four door car. Through leads, they tracked down the Cerna brothers who are now in jail with no bond.
Gonzalez had a prestigious medical career in pulmonary and internal medicine. His research has been published in the journal of the American Medical Association. He was a member of the Methodist Neurological Institute in which he cared for ALS and MDA patients.
While his career has been distinguished, those who knew Gonzalez said he was a simple man who loved to take his son on a stroller ride.
A motive for his death remains a mystery.
"We don't believe he owed anyone any money. We don't believe he was involved in any foul play," said Martin.
