A person, who shot and killed a TikTok star and an 18-year-old college student at a Corona movie show three years in the past, was sentenced Monday to life in jail with out risk of parole.
Joseph Jimenez Jr., 23, was sentenced in a Riverside courtroom. He was convicted throughout a December trial of two counts of first-degree homicide, in addition to a sentencing enhancement of private use of a firearm inflicting loss of life.
On July 26, 2021, Jimenez shot 19-year-old TikTok star Anthony Barajas and faculty sophomore Rylee Goodrich, each of Corona, throughout a exhibiting of the movie “The Eternally Purge” on the Regal Edwards Corona Crossings theater, based on authorities. Six individuals had been within the viewers for the 9:35 p.m. exhibiting; Barajas and Goodrich had been on their first date.
In what authorities described as an “unprovoked assault,” Jimenez went to his automotive and acquired a bag containing a gun. He sneaked up behind the victims because the credit rolled and opened fireplace. Investigators stated there was no indication Jimenez knew the victims or had any interplay with them earlier than the taking pictures.
Barajas was shot “execution-style” and Goodrich was additionally shot point-blank within the head, authorities stated. Goodrich died on the scene, and Barajas died days later at a hospital after being taken off life help.
Jimenez was arrested the day after the taking pictures after his pals informed police he left the theater midway via the film and returned with a bag holding a “strap,” based on a search warrant. Investigators discovered a gun that matched the weapon used within the taking pictures, in addition to extra proof at Jimenez’s home.
Jimenez initially pleaded not responsible by cause of madness and stated throughout his madness trial that he was not taking his schizophrenia treatment the day of the killings and heard voices in his head from “Abigail” and one other particular person saying that the victims had been harmful.
In a jailhouse interview with the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Jimenez stated that he had been not too long ago identified with schizophrenia however that he had stopped taking his treatment as a result of he ran out of drugs. Jimenez informed the newspaper that the one approach he may save himself from the victims was to shoot them.
Jimenez was dominated sane by Superior Courtroom Choose Timothy J. Hollenhorst in December.
Through the trial, Hollenhorst stated his choice to search out Jimenez sane was influenced by the truth that he stole Goodrich’s pockets after the taking pictures and had a “regular interplay” with a feminine concession employee earlier than the film, through which he requested her for her cellphone quantity. Hollenhorst additionally identified that Jimenez warned his pals concerning the taking pictures, ran out of an emergency exit door afterward and didn’t instantly inform Corona police concerning the voices.
“There isn’t a query that the defendant suffers from schizophrenia. … It’s also clear to this court docket that the defendant was not treating his psychological well being points appropriately by not usually taking his treatment,” Hollenhorst stated on the time.
Barajas was recognized on TikTok as itsanthonymichael and had almost one million followers on the social media platform. He had attended Mater Dei Excessive Faculty in Santa Ana.
Goodrich was a sophomore at Grand Canyon College. Her family stated she and Barajas went to the theater on a primary date after Barajas had simply returned from a visit to Hawaii.
