Two men sentenced for murder, attempted robbery in Sacramento County drug deal
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Judge sentenced Gonzalez, Dilnawaz to potential life terms for 2023 shooting
- Jury found both men guilty of murder, attempted robbery and firearm enhancements
- The victim's jewelry was missing, and no drugs or cash was found on him.
A judge has handed down potential life sentences in prison for two men convicted of murder and attempted robbery for a shooting in a December 2023 drug deal in Sacramento County.
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Maryanne Gilliard on June 13 sentenced Richard Alfred Gonzalez to 57 years to life in prison and Angelo Dilnawaz to 26 years to life in prison for the shooting death of Steven James Haefner, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday in a news release.
Gonzalez, 29, and Dilnawaz, 20, remained in custody Monday awaiting transfer to a California prison. Haefner, 20, was an Antelope resident at the time of the deadly shooting, Sacramento County Coroner’s Office records show.
On Dec. 20, 2023, Gonzalez and Dilnawaz arranged to buy drugs from Haefner, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors did not say what drugs were being sold.
Haefner arrived at the arranged meeting place and got into the rear passenger seat on the driver’s side of Gonzalez’s vehicle. Prosecutors said security camera video showed Gonzalez’s vehicle immediately drove away and the rear driver’s side door opened.
Haefner was seen trying to get out of the vehicle before he was pulled back inside. Prosecutors said a witness heard a gunshot coming from the vehicle as it drove away.
The vehicle was seen returning to where Haefner initially got inside, then Haefner was seen being pushed out of the moving vehicle, according to the DA’s Office. Haefner was found bleeding profusely from two gunshot wounds and did not survive his injuries.
Prosecutors said Haefner’s jewelry was missing, and investigators found no drugs or cash on him. The homicide investigation led officers to Gonzalez, who was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time.
Further investigation linked Dilnawaz to Gonzalez and placed them both near the crime scene at the time of the shooting, according to the DA’s Office.
On March 19, a jury found Gonzalez and Dilnawaz guilty of first-degree murder and attempted robbery along with an enhancement for being armed with a gun while committing a felony. Prosecutors said Gonzalez also was convicted of being a felon in possession of a gun.
Gonzalez’s conviction included an additional enhancement for a previous assault with with a firearm conviction considered a strike under California’s “Three Strikes” law.
