Daniel Dawson, a 23-year-old man from Hanford, California, was fatally shot on the night of February 6, 2025. The incident occurred in a parking lot near an In-N-Out restaurant on 12th Avenue and Centennial Drive. Hanford police responded to reports of gunfire and discovered Dawson outside of a vehicle, already deceased. Another man, who was also shot, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 27-year-old Rafael Estrada, who fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
Investigators worked through the night, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts played a crucial role in identifying Estrada as the shooter. The following day, police tracked him to an apartment complex in Goshen, where he was arrested. Estrada was booked into the Kings County Jail and is facing charges of murder and attempted murder. Authorities are still working to determine the exact motive behind the attack, though they suspect an illegal drug transaction may have been involved.
Dawson’s family is devastated by his loss. His older brother, Joseph Dawson, described him as a bright and talented young man who was deeply family-oriented. Dawson was also a father to a three-month-old baby girl. His mother is now mourning the loss of her youngest son, having previously lost her eldest son in Afghanistan in 2010. The family is currently making arrangements for Dawson’s funeral while expressing gratitude to the Hanford Police Department for their swift action in apprehending the suspect. This tragic event marks the first homicide in Hanford in 2025.
