Single father Desiderio Rodriguez took a second job tending bar so he could buy a special Christmas present for his 12-year-old son.

Rodriguez, 32, was working an extra shift at Sebastian's Grill, 102 S. Broadway, when he was gunned down by William Davenport, who returned to the bar for revenge after an earlier altercation with gang members.

It was just after 2 a.m. and Rodriguez was closing up Nov. 8, 2004, when Davenport returned to the bar.

"What's this guy doing back here?" Rodriguez asked, as he opened the door. Rodriguez told Davenport he was sorry for the problem earlier that night and offered to buy him a drink.

Instead, Davenport pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots. Rodriguez was shot 9 times.

Davenport was convicted Tuesday in Denver District Court of first-degree murder in Rodriguez's death and five counts of attempted first-degree murder for shooting at other people in the bar.

"Desi died in vain. He died doing his job," His mother, Helen Rodriguez, said, crying. "He was minding his own business. He was shot nine times in the chest because he was a nice guy and he opened the door."

Testimony during the trial showed that Davenport had gotten into an altercation with some Hispanic gang members, one of whom punched him in the face.

Enraged, Davenport left the bar with his brother, but returned hours later to seek vengeance for the "disrespect" he believed he had been shown.

Helen Rodriguez said the family has been devastated by her son's death. "He was our only son," she said. "It's been a nightmare."

But the family takes comfort in her grandson, Desiderio Rodriguez Jr., now a 15-year-old football player, who is the spitting image of his father.

"The other day he said something and we all turned around and our mouths dropped open. It was like Desi was here. It was just like his father would say it."