Mom of Fresno's first 2015 homicide victim speaks out

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Fresno family is starting the new year in shock and grief after the murder of a loved one. And now, police are hunting for the killer in the city's first homicide of 2015.

The emotions are extremely raw right now for Caroline Rosiles. On Christmas, she celebrated her son Samuel's 31st birthday. Now, she has to plan his funeral.

"He just didn't deserve what he got. He didn't deserve that." Caroline Rosiles said.

Fresno police say Samuel Rosiles and a friend had gone to a gas station in Southwest Fresno around midnight to get air in their car tires. That's when someone opened fire, killing Rosiles and injuring another 23-year-old man who had just come from a New Year's party and was standing next to Rosiles because of a mutual friend.

The shooter got away, and police are investigating if the killing involved gangs. But Caroline Rosiles strongly believes her son was not a gang member.

"I mean he wasn't like a thug on the street," she said. "He has two kids. He has a wife. He just got a job."

She says her son just started a field worker job two weeks ago to support his family and children -- ages 2 and 3.

"How am I going to tell a 3-year-old that Daddy's never coming home," Caroline Rosiles said.

The murder of Rosiles marks the first murder in the city of Fresno for 2015. As police track down a suspect, the victim's mother has a message for his killer.

"Look what they did," she said. "They tore up a family. They just tore up a family."

The second shooting victim has not been identified. Fresno police say he has undergone surgery and is expected to survive.