Jury Delivers Death Sentence in Vasquez Case
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North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez.
A Clay County jury has sentenced Joshua T. Rocha to death for the 2022 murder of North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez. The verdict was delivered Thursday, October 2, 2025, following Rocha’s conviction for first-degree murder and armed criminal action in one of the most disturbing cases to ever impact the community.
The penalty phase began shortly after the guilty verdict, as jurors weighed whether Rocha should face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. “We are grateful to the jury for seeing through any attempts to justify the unjustifiable,” said Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson. “Officer Vasquez’s family, his fellow officers, and our entire community deserve nothing less than complete justice.”
The tragedy occurred on July 19, 2022, when Officer Vasquez began what should have been a routine patrol shift. During a traffic stop at 21st Avenue and Clay Street, Rocha ambushed the officer with an AR-style rifle. Dashcam footage presented during the trial showed Rocha waiting in his vehicle before opening the door and firing point-blank into Officer Vasquez’s head. As the wounded officer lay in the street, Rocha stood over him and fired additional rounds.
When questioned by investigators, Rocha showed no remorse. Asked why he didn’t flee, he replied, “Cause I know I couldn’t outrun him in that car. I knew that car was way too slow.” When pressed about his plan, he coldly answered, “Basically yeah.”
During sentencing, prosecutors revealed Rocha’s deep involvement in illegal firearms activity. He had taught himself to build untraceable guns using 3D printers and knew how to convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firearms. He even created instructional videos teaching others to do the same. Investigators recovered videos of Rocha firing weapons from moving vehicles toward populated areas.
Prosecutors argued that Rocha killed Officer Vasquez to escape the consequences of his actions, describing his behavior as “pure evil.” Even in jail, Rocha continued to display violent tendencies, fashioning a shank while in Clay County custody and later being caught concealing metal in his armpit in St. Charles County.
“Officer Daniel Vasquez represented the very best of law enforcement,” said Thompson. “He was a dedicated public servant with a heart as big as his smile. This wasn’t just a crime against Officer Vasquez and his family—it was a crime against the entire community.”
Vasquez was remembered as a kind and selfless man who often brought food to share with others while working security. His death leaves a lasting void among his family, fellow officers, and the community he served.
KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.
