Youth baseball coach shot dead outside barbershop in front of wife and four children, cops say

A beloved youth baseball coach in Alabama was shot and killed outside a barbershop in front of his wife and young children following an argument with a friend.

Birmingham police say Magdaleno Mendoza Jr., 36, faces a charge of provocation manslaughter in connection with the death of Jorge Fonseca. The shooting happened Saturday outside a barbershop in a strip mall at 260 West Valley Avenue.

Under Alabama law, prosecutors can charge someone with provocation manslaughter when they recklessly cause another person’s death in the “sudden heat of passion.”

Police told AL.com that the suspect and victim knew each other and got into an argument that turned physical outside the barbershop. Mendoza allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Fonseca to death. He fled the scene but officers arrested him about 15 minutes later.

Fonseca’s wife and four children were inside the barbershop at the time of the shooting. No further details were released.

The victim coached for the Wow Factor 205 youth baseball organization.

“More than a coach, Coach George was a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud son, a caring brother, a loyal friend, and a mentor to countless young athletes. His greatest pride was his family. He loved being a dad and was deeply committed to his children, always leading by example through his hard work, dedication and unconditional love,” a post on the organization’s Facebook page said. “Coach George taught more than the game of baseball — he taught life. He instilled values of respect, accountability, perseverance and character in every player he coached. He had a unique ability to make every child feel important, valued and capable of achieving more than they thought possible.”

Fonseca’s friend Troy Whetstone told local Fox affiliate WBRC that he had been with the victim and his son the night before the shooting. Whetstone’s son played on a baseball team alongside Fonseca’s.

The death has rippled through the tight-knit local traveling baseball community.

“A lot of kids took it bad,” Whetstone said. “Especially my son … I’m pretty sure my son looked at Coach George as a second dad. He was special. It was different. To have those types of coaches on your staff, it means the world. Especially to parents.”