MANTECA, Calif. — Manteca community are grappling with the sudden and tragic loss of Charles McGonegal II, 69, who died after being shot by Manteca police officers during a confrontation at an In-N-Out Burger parking lot on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
According to the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner’s Office, Charles McGonegal, a longtime resident of Manteca, succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident shortly after being transported to a local hospital.
The situation unfolded just after 5 p.m. at the In-N-Out location on Yosemite Avenue, where police were called in response to a disturbance involving a man inside a van in the restaurant’s drive-thru lane. What started as a seemingly routine welfare check quickly escalated into a tense and ultimately deadly encounter.
Authorities say that when officers approached the van and attempted to engage with McGonegal, he unexpectedly rammed one of the patrol cars. Despite efforts by officers to de-escalate the situation over the course of approximately 20 minutes, police report that McGonegal then allegedly rammed two additional patrol cars.
At that point, officers discharged their weapons. McGonegal was critically injured and rushed to the hospital, where he later died. No officers were reported injured during the incident.
As of now, the exact details and motivations behind McGonegal’s behavior remain unclear. An official investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and police have not yet released footage or further comment on whether McGonegal was armed or experiencing a mental health crisis.
News of Charles McGonegal’s death has struck a nerve in the community. Many who knew him are expressing shock and sorrow, describing him as a man with a complex history but a good heart. Former neighbors recall him as quiet and reserved, and several individuals have stepped forward to ask for a transparent and thorough investigation into the events that led to his death.
One Manteca resident stated:
“It’s just heartbreaking. We don’t know what he was going through in that moment, and we don’t know what really happened. We need answers, but more than anything, we need compassion — for him, for his family, and for the community.”
A memorial is expected to be organized in the coming days as the community seeks healing and clarity. Those close to the case are urging anyone with additional information or witness accounts to come forward as the investigation continues.