The man suspected of fatally shooting UC Berkeley senior Rodrigo Rodriguez Jr in 2007 was found guilty of first-degree murder with special circumstances in Sacramento County Superior Court Thursday.

Because of the special circumstances conviction-meaning that defendant Andre Pulido was hiding in wait before the shooting-Pulido will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The conviction was bittersweet for family members of Rodriguez Jr, said his father Rodrigo Rodriguez.

"No parent would ever want to go through what we're going through," he said. "It's tough for the family alone. It's mind-boggling; he had such a bright future."

During the trial, the prosecution proved that Pulido waited outside the House of Skillz-an Oak Park neighborhood barbershop where Rodrigo Rodriguez Jr worked-for approximately 30 minutes before committing the murder.

Police believed that Pulido mistook Rodriguez Jr to be another, similar-looking man.

"The jury was very attentive ... and we were allowed to present a complete defense and the jury rejected that," said Tom Johnson, Pulido's attorney.

He said Pulido's family has not released a statement regarding the conviction.

Despite mixed feelings in the courtroom Thursday, Rodrigo Rodriguez said he is "incredibly proud" of the man his son became.

"Proud parents raised a young man with high standards," he said. "He never went for the middle, never went for the bottom; he always went for the top."

Rodrigo Rodriguez said his son was "intelligent, smart, outspoken, but very humble," adding that he loved contributing to his community in Oak Park and the Bay Area.

"He didn't brag about what he had or what he did, just a great kid," Rodrigo Rodriguez said. "He was tutoring elementary kids in Hoover Elementary in Oakland."

Rodrigo Rodriguez Jr was the first of his family to attend college and received a scholarship to UC Berkeley that would have covered all his expenses until 2015.

Pulido will return to court July 17 for his mandatory sentencing. At the hearing, Rodrigo Rodriguez expects that "an enormous amount of people will want to speak" about his son's personality and accomplishments.

"At the same time we are devastated but proud," he said. "We are very, very lucky parents to have such a wonderful young man."

Tags: RODRIGO RODRIGUEZ JR