Suspect charged in killing of beloved father of 4, coach at Birmingham barber shop

A tragedy has shaken the Birmingham community following the weekend shooting death of a local husband and father at a south Birmingham barber shop. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office officially issued a warrant on Monday for 36-year-old Pinson resident Magdaleno Mendoza, who now faces a charge of provocation manslaughter in the death of Jorge Fonseca.

A Legacy of Mentorship

Fonseca, a father of four, was widely respected as a dedicated youth baseball coach with the Wow Factor 205 nonprofit. His close friend and the organization's founder, Troy Whetstone, paid tribute to Fonseca as a devoted family man and a profound influence on local youth.

"His greatest pride was his family," Whetstone shared via social media. "He loved being a dad and was deeply committed to his children, always leading by example through his hard work, dedication and unconditional love." Beyond the diamond, Whetstone noted that Fonseca "instilled values of respect, accountability, perseverance, and character in every player he coached," leaving a mark that will resonate for generations.

The Incident

The shooting occurred just after 3:30 p.m. Saturday outside La Vida Barberia Spa Y Estilismo, located in a West Valley Avenue strip mall. According to Birmingham Police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade, dispatchers received reports of a shooting, but despite immediate life-saving efforts by fire medics, Fonseca was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities believe the victim and the suspect were acquaintances and both were customers at the shop. For reasons currently under investigation, a physical altercation broke out between the two men outside the business, during which Mendoza allegedly produced a firearm and shot Fonseca. Fonseca’s wife and children were present at the scene during the incident.

Ongoing Investigation

Mendoza fled the scene following the shooting but was taken into custody by police just 15 minutes later a short distance away. Investigators took several witnesses who were inside the shop during the confrontation to police headquarters for questioning. The specific nature of the argument remains under investigation. Fonseca’s death marks the 23rd homicide in Birmingham this year.