A California man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison after a tragic case of mistaken identity led to a deadly shooting outside a Super Bowl party. A joyful evening celebrating football ended in heartbreak when Frank Rojas, a 24-year-old San Francisco 49ers fan, lost his life for no reason at all.
Daniel Epimenio Gonzalez, 39, was found guilty by a Fresno jury in October 2024 on several charges, including murder with a firearm enhancement and possession of a firearm by a felon. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison for the February 2020 killing of Rojas.
Rojas was with friends at his home in Fresno, celebrating the 49ers’ big game appearance, when Gonzalez showed up uninvited and aggressive. Prosecutors said Gonzalez, a known gang member, mistook the 49ers flag at the residence for the insignia of a rival gang.
According to Fresno County Deputy District Attorney Liz Owen, Gonzalez approached the house in a threatening manner, pretending to shoot at it with his hand before escalating to real violence. “The defendant approached their house and immediately acted in a violent manner,” she said during the sentencing hearing.
The defense tried to argue that Rojas provoked the incident, but the judge firmly rejected that claim. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Arlan Harrell III said, “There was no provocation. You rode up on a bicycle, made gun gestures toward the home, flagged people to come out, and then shot him.”
Jurors were shown the weapon used in the killing—a homemade firearm cobbled together from random parts. Investigators recovered the weapon from a homeless encampment where Gonzalez had been living at the time.
“It’s a homemade gun,” Owen explained, describing how easily such weapons can be made. Despite defense arguments suggesting mishandling of evidence, including claims that officers didn’t change gloves while handling the weapon, the jury sided with the prosecution.
During the trial, Gonzalez was identified as the shooter by Fresno Police Detective Michelle Vanzant. She described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his 30s, with tattoos on his face, including three dots under one eye. “Do you see that person in court today?” Owen asked. “I do,” Vanzant replied, pointing at Gonzalez in the courtroom.
For Rojas’ family, the sentencing offered little solace. “Frank was taken from us,” said Kimberly Rodriguez, the victim’s cousin, during an emotional impact statement. “He was a great son and a great father to his son.” She added that she couldn’t forgive Gonzalez for his actions. “I hope he asks for forgiveness from God because I can’t do that.”
Gonzalez remained expressionless during his final court appearance, showing no signs of remorse. The tragedy has left a lasting void for the Rojas family, who continue to mourn the senseless loss of a loved one.
