A California man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for killing an innocent man outside a Super Bowl party in a case of mistaken identity.
Daniel Epimenio Gonzalez, 39, was found guilty in October 2024 of murder with a firearm enhancement and possession of a firearm by a felon... Continue reading here ▶
On Thursday, he was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison for the February 2020 shooting of 24-year-old Frank Rojas.
Rojas, a San Francisco 49ers fan, was celebrating his team’s appearance in the NFL championship game with friends when Gonzalez approached their home.
Gonzalez acted aggressively, pretending to shoot at the house, which led to Rojas’s tragic death.
Prosecutors say Gonzalez, a known gang member, mistook the 49ers flag for the symbol of a rival gang and came with the intent to cause harm.
The defense argued that Rojas provoked the altercation, but the judge disagreed, stating that there was no provocation.
During the trial, the jury saw the murder weapon—a homemade gun made from random parts that anyone could find. Gonzalez was identified by a detective, who pointed to him in the courtroom, confirming he was the person responsible for the killing.
The defense tried to challenge some of the evidence, but the jury did not accept their arguments. Rojas’s family, including his cousin Kimberly Rodriguez, gave emotional statements, describing how much he meant to them.
Gonzalez showed little emotion during his trial, and his lawyer admitted that he showed no remorse.
Rodriguez said, “I can’t forgive him for what he did. He took someone very important from us, and I hope he asks for forgiveness from God because I can’t.”
