(May 12, 2008) -- LB-based Superior Court Judge Joan Comparet-Cassani today agreed with a jury's recommendation and sentenced to death Frank Christopher Gonzalez, 27, the second defendant found guilty for the March 2006 Wrigley-area slaying of off-duty L.A. Sheriff's Deputy Maria Cecilia Rosa.

Photo source: L.A.S.D.

On April 22, the same jury convicted Gonzalez of using a .22-caliber handgun to kill Deputy Rosa during an attempted robbery.the L.A., finding true the special circumstance of murder during an attempted robbery. The jury also convicted Gonzalez of attempted robbery and found true allegations that he personally used a handgun to kill the deputy.

In December 2007, another jury in Judge Comparet-Cassani's court convicted Justin Ashley Flint, 21, of first-degree murder and attempted robbery, along with allegations that a principal in the crime was armed. However it found the special circumstance not true in his case and in January 2008, Flint was sentenced to 29 years to life in prison.

Deputy Rosa, 30, was killed on March 28, 2006, when she walked to her car shortly before 6 a.m., on her way to work at the L.A.'s Men's Central Jail. Prosecutors said Deputy Rosa opened her car's trunk and the defendants -- both on bicycles -- rode up and confronted her. She tried to draw her service weapon, but was shot twice and died within minutes despite attempts by good Samaritans and paramedics to revive her.

Early in the investigation, LBPD recovered two bicycles they believe were used by the killers...

Photo source: LBPD

...and LBPD Detectives found surveillance video taken at a nearby bank, showing chilling images of the suspects on bikes.

The D.A.'s release says a break in the case for Long Beach police investigators came after DNA found on the handlebar grip of a bicycle left at the scene eventually led to Gonzalez and Flint. Both men by this time were in state prison on convictions of other crimes. They were charged with Deputy Rosa's murder in September 2006.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, in a solemn Sept. 27, 2006 news conference, LB Police Chief Anthony Batts announced that the two men had been charged in connection with Deputy Rosa's murder.

In April 2006, Chief Batts told the nationally-broadcast America's Most Wanted: "I have a very clear message to the assassins who participated in this. We will not stop, we will not give up, until we track you down."

At the Sept. 2006 news conference, Chief Batts said, "Let this be a strong lesson to some that when you do a murder like this in this city, we will hunt you down. Justice will be served."