A man has been given a life sentence without the chance of parole for fatally shooting a couple during their first date.
Joseph Jimenez Jr, aged 23, shot Rylee Goodrich, 18, and Anthony Barajas, 19, in the back of the head at Regal Edwards Corona Crossings theater.
The tragic incident took place on July 26, 2021, resulting in Goodrich losing her life at the scene.
Barajas, who suffered a severe head injury, was put on life support but sadly passed away shortly after, as confirmed by his family five days later.
The young couple was watching a horror movie when the senseless shooting occurred. Barajas, who had a significant social media following, had expressed his excitement about finding love just before the tragedy.
Goodrich, a sophomore at Grand Canyon University, also ran her own eyelash business before her untimely death.
Joseph Jimenez Jr has been sentenced to life without parole. Credit: Photo by Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images
Despite the brutal nature of the killings, Jimenez Jr initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, attributing his actions to his schizophrenia and a lack of medication.
He claimed to have been influenced by auditory hallucinations from a voice named ‘Abigail,’ warning him of perceived threats posed by the victims.
In a 2021 interview with the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Jimenez Jr detailed how he believed shooting the teens was the only way to protect himself, as instructed by the voices in his head.
However, during the trial held in December of the same year, Superior Court Judge Timothy J. Hollenhorst deemed Jimenez Jr mentally sound at the time of the crime.
It was revealed that Jimenez Jr had callously stolen Goodrich’s wallet before swiftly leaving the theater premises.
The jury found him guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, with an additional charge for using a firearm that resulted in death.
The 23-year-old was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder. Credit: Photo by Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images
Judge Hollenhorst acknowledged Jimenez Jr’s schizophrenia but criticized his failure to manage his condition through regular medication.
A former acquaintance, Carlos Gonzalez, disclosed that Jimenez Jr exhibited concerning behavior before the incident, muttering to himself and expressing internal conflict.
Witnesses recounted feeling unsettled by Jimenez Jr’s demeanor during the movie, prompting some to leave and invite him to join them, an offer he declined.
On February 26, Jimenez Jr received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for his heinous actions.