TEMPE, Ariz. – 38-year-old Gustavo Gonzalez—or Goose—was getting into his car, preparing to go to church, when 39-year-old Blaine Blystone started shooting him from his window, believing Gonzalez was from social media, sent to kill him.
Local perspective:
James Lenstrohm, owner of Dapper Devil Barbershop, explained to his client why Gonzalez’s station inside Dapper Devil in Old Town Scottsdale sits empty.
“The gentleman who was in his apartment… the situation was not in Goose’s favor,” Lenstrohm said.
The backstory:
Police said the situation involved Blystone, a gamer on the social media platform Discord. He told police he was receiving threats online.
Paranoid but unwilling to call police, Blystone chose to barricade himself inside his Camden Hayden apartment in Tempe on Sept. 26, watching through a window the comings and goings of his neighbors outside. When he saw Gonzalez for a second time getting into his car, Blystone told police he believed it was his “last chance.”
“He didn’t know him, he didn’t talk to him, he knew nothing about him,” Lenstrohm said.
Blystone, barricaded inside his apartment, pulled out a semi-automatic rifle, shooting at the unsuspecting Gonzalez 22 times. Gonzalez was hit with seven bullets, murdered by a man he’d never met.
“I was just here working and I get all these phone calls from his wife and his dad,” said Maxium Havoc, a co-worker of the victim.
What they’re saying:
Inside the barbershop where Gonzalez worked, confusion over what happened to their good friend swirled. His clients have come in, asking where their kind and calming hair-cutter is.
“It is a round, a bullet that is still flying, it didn’t just penetrate his home. It’s still, it’s still there,” said Lenstrohm.
The 38-year-old leaves behind a wife, parents and siblings. His funeral at Life Community Church in Gilbert was attended by more than 500 people who knew Goose through the shop and his Christian ministry, drumming for multiple churches in the area.
“People that were having issues in his chair, he would speak to them. Sometimes the silence or just saying don’t worry about it, not charging. Goose was the epitome of genuine, absolute genuine kindness,” Lenstrohm said.
Blystone admitted to murder after trying to set fire to his apartment, then shooting himself in the stomach, before being trapped on the property by police.
“Obviously it’s wrong. It shouldn’t have happened. Because it happened to literally the nicest person I know,” Havoc said.
“This community lost a really good guy. But the hope is justice will be served and it will be fierce,” he added.
What Gonzalez’s Wife is Saying:
“Everyone’s extremely shocked, very sad,” a witness said. “He just left a big impact with clients and friends, family, and churches.”
Beth Gonzalez met her husband through their church while they were still in high school. They planned to grow old together, but last month, a stranger shattered that dream.
“Gustavo was getting into his car in the middle of the rain to leave to go play worship with one of his friends,” Beth Gonzalez said. “He had come home to change and he popped back out to his car and he was killed while sitting in his car.”
She described them as a very peaceful, non-judgmental person who believed strongly in God. Beth said he tried to live as someone of love and peace, and that everyone felt comfortable around him all the time.
“I think for the disturbed individual, there was paranoia and things happening on his end and he unfortunately and legally had access to a lot of guns and a lot of ammo and decided to use them,” she said.
What’s next:
Blystone was booked in jail after he was released from the hospital, and is facing a charge of first-degree premeditated murder.
Tempe man charged in deadly shooting, arson at apartment complex
39-year-old Blaine Blystone is charged with first-degree murder, arson, and weapons violations after he shot and killed 38-year-old Gustavo Gonzalez at an apartment complex near Scottsdale and Curry roads. Officers said Gonzalez had been in his car and was getting ready to leave when he was shot by Blystone, who then shot himself in the stomach and set fire to his apartment.
What you can do:
His family has set up a GoFundMe for his wife.
The Source: This information was gathered from FOX 10’s previous coverage, and Gonzalez’s employer and coworker.
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