San Jose Police book suspect into the Santa Clara County Jail for Involuntary Manslaughter
SAN JOSE – On Friday, June 5 at approximately 5:45 p.m., suspect Jose Bonilla Rodas, 28, was arrested without incident in the city of South San Francisco by the San Jose PD Covert Response Unit. Rodas was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
Jose Bonilla Rodas was arrested in Esquivel’s death.
The investigation revealed the victim, Daniel Adam Esquivel, 24, was at the Myth Taverna & Lounge on Friday night, March 27. Late in the evening, after midnight and after reportedly fighting with someone, he was sent outside. It was there that he got into an argument with Rodas, who was working as a bouncer. Rodas punched Esquivel, who fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious. Friends loaded Esquivel into a car and drove off. He remained unconscious while friends drove him to Stanford Hospital, where he was brought to the emergency room.
On Saturday, March 28 at approximately 4:50 a.m., the Palo Alto Police Department (PAPD) notified the San Jose Police Department that an adult male was driven to Stanford Hospital with head trauma. Preliminary investigation had revealed the victim was involved in a fight at the nightclub, located in the 100 block of Post Street in San Jose. The victim was brought to Stanford Hospital, where Medical staff had pronounced the victim dead.
The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to his head, as a result of the blow and subsequent fall. It is not clear if Esquivel may have been saved had someone called 911 for emergency medical response rather than his being transported to the hospital in a friend’s car, but that is always the recommended course of action for anyone suffering a serious injury, especially one that leaves the victim unconscious.
Image from the GoFundMe page set up for Esquivel’s family.
The investigation into the events of that night revealed the identity of Rodas as the one who dealt the fatal blow to Esquivel. A warrant was issued, which resulted in the arrest of Rodas when he was located in South San Francisco last Friday.
A friend of the family has set up a Gofundme page for Daniel Esquivel’s family, and his mother, Blanca Martinez. $20,000 has been raised in support through the page.
Read More: PaloAlto Online: Bouncer arrested for death of Palo Alto man outside bar
