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Convicted double murderer Joseph Jimenez Jr. makes a brief statement prior to being sentenced at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Riverside, Calif., as defense attorney Charles Kenyon listens. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)
A California man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for shooting and killing two teenagers in a movie theater during the summer of 2021, a Riverside County judge ruled this week.
On July 26, 2021, Anthony Barajas, 19, and Rylee Goodrich, 18, were on a date. They were watching the 9:35 p.m. screening of the “The Forever Purge” — the fifth movie in a franchise that depicts a government-approved, one-night violent free-for-all — at the Regal Edwards Corona Crossings & RPX Movie Theater.
While sitting next to each other in Row F of Theater No. 15, the unaware couple were gunned down by the only other person in the theater. At the time, their killer was barely older than them — only 20 years old. Joseph Jimenez Jr., now 23, would later claim he heard two voices instructing him to take two lives in exchange for his own, and the judge acknowledged that the defendant was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The violence on the screen masked the sounds of the handgun being fired. Theater workers discovered the bodies after end credits rolled.
In December 2023, Jimenez was declared sane after a bench trial by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Timothy J. Hollenhorst.
“This past December was the first time in three years that there was any semblance of a Christmas at the Goodrich household,” Rylee’s grandfather, Patrick Goodrich, said during a Monday sentencing hearing, according to Los Angeles-based ABC flagship KABC.
“Her memory for her mom and dad is in a place of peace, comfort and beauty,” Rylee’s grandmother, Jody Goodrich, also said in court. “Her memory for them lives in their home and in their hearts.”
For the slain girl’s parents, a courtroom was just too much. They did not attend the sentencing hearing.
Anthony’s father and sisters did, however, and they gave victim impact statements as well.
“You stole the lives of two young people with so much potential to do great things,” Brian Barajas said, addressing his son’s killer. “Anthony was so full of life and touched so many lives in a positive way.”
A TikTok star known as @itsanthonymichael, Anthony was a popular influencer on the video-focused social media platform — and on Instagram as well; his following only increased in death. He graduated from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. Rylee had recently graduated from Corona High School when she died. Online fundraisers for Anthony and for Rylee were set up for their families.
Julia Barajas celebrated her 24th birthday on Monday — having received a poignantly grim sort of gift as her brother’s killer was, finally, locked away forever.
“I want justice and I want peace for my family,” she reportedly said. “It’s time we get put this part behind us and start to fully heal from this.”
Jimenez and three friends also attended the screening. At some point, Jimenez left the theater, retrieved a bag containing a gun from inside his car, and told one of his friends about the “strap” inside. The killer’s friends left — and so did he. But then, Jimenez came back again.
Goodrich was killed immediately. Barajas was critically wounded and kept on life support for several days. He died on July 31, 2021.
During his trial, the state proved that Jimenez ran to his car after the shooting and then drove home. Jimenez was arrested after a search warrant was executed at his residence in El Cerrito the next day.
In September 2021, at first, the defendant pleaded not guilty. Later, Jimenez changed his pleas — admitting factual culpability for the murders but insisting he was not guilty by reason of insanity.
“There is no question that the defendant suffers from schizophrenia,” Superior Court Judge Timothy J. Hollenhorst said last year. “It is also clear to this court that the defendant was not treating his mental health issues appropriately by not regularly taking his medication.”
Defense attorney Charles Kenyon argued in vain about his client’s problems — including how he lost his mother to illness in 2020.
Anthony’s mother addressed that sad story during the sentencing hearing, according to Los Angeles-based Fox flagship KTTV.
“Your mother was taken because she was sick,” Catherine Barajas said through tears. “My son and Rylee were taken because you made a choice … You stole my son and you stole Rylee. You stole their future and you stole our future. You shot him and you watched him bleed. You stepped over him like he didn’t matter.”
The killer, for his part, did offer a brief apology and condolences — saying he wished what happened that day had never occurred.
Hollenhorst dismissed Jimenez’s terse words during the hearing.
“You are incapable of remorse,” the judge told the condemned man before issuing the sentence of life without the possibility of parole — plus an additional 50 years. “You knew what you were doing.”
