Daniel Gonzalez Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2020 Murder

Published on January 16, 2025

Today, on January 16, 2025, Daniel Epimenio Gonzalez (39, of Fresno) was sentenced to 75 years to life in prison for the murder of Frank Rojas (24, of Fresno). Gonzalez’s sentence was handed down by the Honorable Alvin Harrell of the Fresno County Superior Court after a Fresno County jury found Gonzalez guilty of all counts following a weeks-long trial that concluded on October 14, 2024.

On February 1, 2020, officers with the Fresno Police Department responded to a residence regarding a victim of a shooting. When they arrived, they found Mr. Rojas suffered a single gunshot to his abdomen. Witnesses on scene told officers that while they were in the front yard of the residence beginning to prepare for the Superbowl the following day, a Hispanic male, later identified as Daniel Gonzalez, rode by on a bike and began to cuss at Mr. Rojas and the witnesses over a San Francisco 49er’s flag that was displayed in the front of the house. A verbal argument ensued, which carried over to a vacant lot on the north side of the residence. Witnesses watched as Gonzalez took a homemade gun (zip gun) out of his backpack and shot Mr. Rojas. Mr. Gonzalez then fled the scene. Officers located Gonzalez a short time later at a nearby homeless encampment. During a search of the encampment, officers located the zip gun that was used in the homicide.

Gonzalez has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2002, which includes a prior strike offense from 2013.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Fresno Police Department for their investigative work and dedication to this case.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Liz Owen of our Homicide Unit. SDDA Owen was assisted by Senior District Attorney Investigator Jennifer Machado with our office’s Bureau of Investigations.

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