A second victim of a shooting that occurred on Monday in a Corona movie theater has passed away. “The Corona Police Department has been notified that Anthony Barajas passed away early this morning,” the Corona Police Department said in a statement. “We extend our thoughts and condolences to his family and friends.”
Barajas, 19, and friend Rylee Goodrich, 18, were shot in the head by suspect Joseph Jimenez, 20, while attending a movie on July 26 at the Regal Edwards Theatre in Corona. Employees found the two victims while cleaning the theater following the 9:30 p.m. movie, according to authorities. Goodrich was pronounced dead at the scene. Barajas had been on life support since the shooting.
“They were just starting their relationship,” Goodrich’s mother said in an interview. “He was a beautiful boy and my heart goes out to his family.”
The Corona Police Department is working with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office to add an additional count of first-degree murder against Jimenez, who has been charged with one count of murder with a sentencing enhancement of personal use of a firearm causing death, one count of attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement of personally inflicting great bodily injury, a sentencing enhancement of personal use of a firearm causing great bodily injury, and a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Division of Victim Services is working closely with the families of both victims and is also assisting Rylee’s family to provide funeral expenses through the California Victim Compensation Board.
No motive for the shootings is being released at this time. Authorities said there was no known connection between the victims and Jimenez. “Based on the evidence provided, this appears to be a random and unprovoked attack,” the DA said.
Jimenez was arrest and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility after Corona police detectives served a search warrant in the 19000 block of Envoy Avenue in El Cerrito and seized a handgun of the same caliber as the weapon used in the shooting. Jimenez is being held without the possibility of bail.
Barajas, a TikTok star with nearly one million followers, last posted on Friday and said he was on a family vacation. A relative established a GoFundMe account to help pay for his medical expenses.
The Corona Police Department is asking for help from anyone who was inside the theater, in another movie theater, or in the shopping center between 9 and 11:45 p.m. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Detective Slaven Neagu at 951-739-4916 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported to the Anonymous TIP Line at 951-817-5839.
