NORTH COUNTY -- An Escondido man shot to death in front of a July 4 party on the city's west side was only trying to get to the house next door when he was confronted by men who identified themselves as gang members before refusing to let him pass, a friend of the victim said Monday at a candlelight vigil.

"We weren't even going to the party," said a young man named Dennis, who did not want to give his last name for fear of retaliation.

Dennis said he was a roommate of Daniel Eugene Alexander, 26, who was fatally shot during an altercation outside a July 4 party in the 500 block of Vine Street in Escondido. According to Dennis, Alexander celebrated July 4 with his ex-girlfriend at a day-long concert and planned to meet her later that night at her house on Vine Street.

He said that he and his wife accompanied Alexander to Vine Street, and that the three were stopped by men who identified themselves as gang members and claimed to be acting as security at the party. Alexander's ex-girlfriend's house shares a driveway with the house that had the party, which about 100 people attended.

"One of them said, 'I got something for you,'" Dennis said about the men who stopped them. Some of the men went into the house and quickly returned, and Dennis said he then heard loud bangs and saw flashes coming at him. Admitting to drinking that day, Dennis said he originally thought the bangs were fireworks and that he doesn't remember much of what happened next.

He said he does remember later going home and knocking on the door and praying that Alexander would answer, although he said he already feared something bad had happened.

Escondido Police Lt. Bob Benton on Monday said witnesses described the shooter as a Latino man in his mid-20s with a dark complexion, wearing dark pants and a black or dark blue short-sleeve shirt. Benton also said the neighborhood usually is very quiet, but that police received a call about a fight there shortly after 11:30 p.m.

"The original call we got was about a large party and a fight in the front with more than 40 individuals," Benton said. "When our officer arrived, he didn't see a fight, but he heard the gunshots."

The officer found Alexander on the driveway, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head.

After detaining and interviewing many party goers during the following hours, Benton said officers pieced together the moments before the shooting.

"The victim had apparently just arrived at the party and was confronted by people who had already been there," he said. "It sounds like it was some sort of verbal argument between the victim and others at the party. One of the people at the party apparently had a handgun."

Friends of Alexander gathered at a San Marcos park Monday afternoon to remember him as a fun-loving man who loved disc golf, the San Diego Chargers and meeting new people.

"He was a guy who would walk up to you with his hand out and a smile on his face," said Allen Risley, a community services commissioner with the city of San Marcos. Risley and about 60 people met for a vigil at Montiel Park, where they regularly played disc golf with Alexander.

"He was a friend and a brother," said Aaron Weeks about Alexander, who was working as a cook at the Sunset Lounge in Escondido when the two met about two and a half years ago. "I have a lot of regret. I wish I could have been there."

"He always had a smile on his face," said Mike Pearson of Escondido. Pearson said he was Alexander's doubles partner three or four times in disc golf tournaments at the park. "He was always eager to try new shots," Pearson said.

Disc golf is played like golf, with players throwing a flying disc instead of hitting a ball. Rather than sinking a ball in a hole, players try to land their disc in a basket, and the player with the lowest score wins.

On Monday, many friends who had played with Alexander shared memories of their lost friend, displayed photos of him and wrote messages on discs and colored construction paper.

"Thanks for the great memories," a friend named Danny wrote.

"Danny, save me a place in the sky!" wrote another friend, named Dennis. "Till then, love ya, bro."

"Dan, we love you," wrote a friend named Crystal. "You will never be forgotten."

Other friends said regular disc golfers at the park are like family members and that losing Alexander was like losing a brother.

Jeremiah Price remembered Alexander getting one ace, the equivalent of a hole in one, on hole No. 3 at Montiel Park. Aces are very rare, and Price said he was stunned when Andrew Mills, another friend at Monday's memorial, threw an ace at the same hole just after drinking a toast to Alexander's memory.

Mills said he threw the disc and thought it was a miss, but a gust of wind lifted it up and guided it to the basket.

"I've never said I believed in God, and I just don't know how to take this," Price said.

Risley said he will approach the city about having a bench placed at hole No. 3 at the park in memory of Alexander.

"I don't know what words we can say other than that we're all here today," Risley said, standing on a picnic table bench and speaking to Alexander. "Look down on us, and help us ace hole number 3."

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Escondido Detective Don Tulimero at 760-839-4776.