Insets, left to right: Magdaleno Mendoza Jr. (Birmingham Police Department) and Jorge Fonseca (Wow Factor 205). Background: Barbershop in Birmingham, Ala., where Mendoza allegedly killed Fonseca (Google Maps).
A youth baseball coach in Alabama was shot and killed outside a Birmingham-area barbershop after an argument with a man authorities say he knew, according to police.
Magdaleno Mendoza Jr., 36, has been charged with provocation manslaughter in the death of Jorge Fonseca, the Birmingham Police Department said. The shooting happened Saturday at a strip mall barbershop in the 260 block of West Valley Avenue.
Under Alabama law, a provocation manslaughter charge may apply when a person causes another’s death in what is described as a sudden heat of passion.
Police told AL.com that Fonseca and Mendoza got into an argument outside the barbershop that escalated into a physical confrontation. Investigators allege Mendoza then pulled a gun and fatally shot Fonseca before fleeing the scene. Officers took him into custody about 15 minutes later.
Fonseca’s wife and four children were at the barbershop at the time of the shooting, and authorities said he was killed in front of his family. Police have not released additional details about what led to the confrontation.
Fonseca was known in the community as a coach with the Wow Factor 205 youth baseball organization, where he worked with young players and their families.
“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 said in an interview with local Fox affiliate WBRC that he was just with the victim and his son the night before the shooting. Whetstone’s son played on a baseball team with 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.”
