Donald Gonzales Identified As Suspect; Receives 38-Year Sentence in Wake of Oeadly Grindr Hookup

In Capitol Hill, Denver, a meeting between two men early in the morning resulted in the fatal shooting of one of them. The other man was held accountable for the incident and subsequently incarcerated.

On Thursday, a 23-year-old man named Donald Gonzales was sentenced to 38 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. In a recent court decision, the judge granted the Gonzales family a reduction of 715 days from their sentence, citing it as a “credit” for time already served.

Since the summer of 2021, Gonzales has been incarcerated in Denver’s jail for the killing of 35-year-old Gary McLaughlin.

According to reports, McLaughlin was discovered lying in the 1100 block of Sherman Street subsequent to residents in the area hearing three gunshots. According to reports, the individual was transported to a nearby medical facility where he ultimately passed away..

The exact details of the encounter between the two men on the night of the murder remain unclear in the document, leaving prosecutors uncertain about what occurred. This is reflected in the decision to charge the suspect with 2nd Degree Murder rather than 1st Degree Murder.

According to reports, the jurors reached a guilty verdict, indicating their agreement with the prosecution’s argument that Gonzales had intended to meet McLaughlin, was present in the vicinity, and was carrying the weapon that caused McLaughlin’s death.

As per the document, the initial connection between the two individuals was made through the Grindr application. According to its website, Grindr has proclaimed itself as the “world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.”

According to the document, Gonzales, who went by the aliases “Donald Youngster” and “Young Top,” had a conversation with 35-year-old McLaughlin on May 20, 2021, just eight days prior to the murder.

According to a Denver Police Department detective’s statement during a court proceeding, the two men met up after their initial conversation.

The prosecutor inquired the DPD detective if the night of the murder was not the initial encounter between the two men.

The detective confirmed with a simple “Correct.”

According to sources, there was a prior encounter during which money was exchanged for sexual services.

The individual confirmed the accuracy of the statement.

According to the document, Gonzales and McLaughlin communicated via text on cell phones after their initial meeting. In the early hours of the 28th, the men exchanged text messages and agreed to convene in front of the apartment complex.

According to the detective, McLaughlin’s neighbors rushed into the street and attempted to provide medical assistance to him. According to reports, a neighbor retrieved McLaughlin’s ringing cell phone.

According to the source, he informed the caller that the individual who possessed the mobile device had sustained a gunshot wound.

As the scene unfolded, two men were observed rushing towards it. One of the men seemed to be engaged in a phone conversation as he approached. According to reports, a man allegedly snatched McLaughlin’s cell phone from a nearby neighbor before fleeing the scene with the accomplice.

According to investigators, it was discovered that the two men were present at a gathering hosted in one of the apartments located at 1160 Sherman Street. Prior to the shooting, McLaughlin was also in attendance. According to the detective’s testimony, the partygoers were engaging in drug use and sexual activity.

According to sources, McLaughlin reportedly informed an individual that they were going to meet a Grindr acquaintance and subsequently left the premises.

According to reports, detectives have discovered Gonzales’s DNA and fingerprints inside the car, specifically in the driver’s side area and on the airbag that was deployed during the crash. According to sources, investigators were able to link shell casings discovered at the scene to a “ghost gun” and 15-round magazine that were concealed at the construction site.

A hardware store receipt was discovered inside the car, indicating a purchase made on the same day as the murder. According to the store’s surveillance video of the purchase, a customer was seen wearing the same clothing as the individual who ran through the construction site.

According to the cell phone records, Gonzales was present in the vicinity during the time of the shooting. According to sources, the white Mercedes found at the scene of the crime belonged to Gonzales’s grandmother.

According to police reports, Gonzales stated during his arrest that he was “exploring his sexuality” when questioned by investigators. The individual alleged that McLaughlin had assaulted him.

In March, Gonzales was found guilty of 2nd Degree Murder by a Denver jury.