Investigators say a 17-year-old was taken into custody nearly a month after a delivery driver was shot multiple times during a late-night drop-off.
MESQUITE, Texas — A 17-year-old suspect was arrested Monday afternoon in connection with a late-October shooting that critically injured DoorDash driver Manuel Gonzales during a delivery on Birch Bend, Mesquite police said. Officers detained the teen after serving search and arrest warrants in the 1400 block of Regent Street.
Police say the arrest marks a turn in a case that drew citywide attention as Gonzales spent weeks in the hospital recovering from five gunshot wounds. Detectives had searched for a gunman who fled on foot after the after-midnight attack, while neighbors pressed for answers and family members pleaded for an arrest. Authorities have not released the teen’s booking photo or listed formal charges. The investigation is still active as detectives gather evidence and prepare affidavits for prosecutors.
Officers were called just after midnight on Oct. 26 to the 2000 block of Birch Bend, where they found Gonzales wounded in the street near his vehicle, according to police accounts shared with local media. Gonzales, 29, a father of three, had been making a food delivery when he was shot in the arm, both legs and the stomach; another round grazed his chin, his relatives have said. He managed to reach his car and, with his phone covered in blood, used voice commands to call 911. Mesquite officers provided lifesaving aid until paramedics arrived and rushed him to a hospital.
Detectives say they later identified a teenage suspect and obtained the warrants served Monday on Regent Street, about four miles from the shooting scene. Police have not disclosed what led them to the teen or whether he knew anyone at the home tied to the delivery. Gonzales has said a dispute over a required delivery PIN code preceded the gunfire, and that he told first responders he believed the shooter was connected to the address on Birch Bend. Officials have not confirmed a motive, and investigators have not said whether robbery or retaliation is suspected.
Gonzales spent nearly a month in the hospital before returning home last week, relatives said. The shooting rattled delivery workers who frequent the neighborhood of single-family homes and cul-de-sacs east of Interstate 635. Witnesses reported hearing bursts of gunfire and a car horn blaring in the immediate aftermath. Crime scene technicians documented shell casings and canvassed for surveillance video. Police said the teen ran from the area on foot; no additional suspects have been publicly identified, and the weapon has not been described.
With the teen in custody, the case moves toward formal charging. Mesquite police said the suspect was being booked into the Dallas County jail Monday evening, with an arrest affidavit expected to outline investigative steps and evidence collected. Prosecutors will review the file and determine counts that could include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police did not list a court date. Investigators are still gathering statements and are asking anyone with information or recordings from the area around Birch Bend to contact them as the timeline is finalized.
Neighbors on Birch Bend said more patrols have passed through since the shooting, and porch lights stayed on later in recent weeks. A nearby resident said he woke to “rapid pops” and saw people rushing toward a car as sirens approached. At Gonzales’ home, family members said they were relieved by the arrest but want answers about why it took weeks to make. “We’re grateful he’s alive,” a relative said, “and we want to see this through in court.” DoorDash representatives have not publicly addressed the arrest but previously noted they were monitoring Gonzales’ recovery.
As of Monday night, the teen’s mug shot and precise charges were still pending, and police had not released details about a suspected motive. Investigators said more information is expected after booking and once the arrest affidavit is filed with Dallas County.
Author note: Last updated November 25, 2025.