[ad_1]
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — A 23-year-old man who shot and killed two teenagers at a Southern California movie theater in July 2021 was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Joseph Jimenez also received an additional 50 years to life in prison for the shooting deaths of Anthony Barajas, 19, and Rylee Goodrich, 18, during a screening of the movie “The Forever Purge” at the Regal Edwards Theater at Crossings in Corona . The two teenagers had a date that night.
Jimenez was declared sane at the conclusion of a trial in December, clearing the way for his conviction on two counts of first-degree murder, special circumstance allegations of stalking and taking multiple lives, as well as firearm and major bodily injury charges. injury allegations.
The victims’ families read emotional impact statements during the sentencing, saying there will never be anything to make up for their loss.
“Last December was the first time in three years that there was anything resembling a Christmas at the Goodrich house,” said Rylee’s grandfather, Patrick Goodrich. Her heartbroken parents decided not to attend.
“The memory of her mom and dad is in a place of peace, comfort and beauty. Her memory of them lives in their home and in their hearts,” said the girl’s grandmother, Jody Goodrich.
Defense attorney Charles Kenyon had argued that Jimenez was not rational at the time and in the midst of schizophrenia when he shot the teens.
“We all agree that schizophrenia caused this,” he said in December. “Joseph Jiménez is not a bad person, but the legal burden is what it is. At the end of the day, unarmed people turn their back on you and do not seem to openly present a threat, under any circumstances, something that you can defend from an objective perspective “
READ ALSO | Former friend testifies suspect gave him ‘death glares’ before murders
During closing arguments at the trial, Kenyon told the court that Jimenez “was fooled by the voices” and “in the theater, he thought he had no options.” He also said that Jiménez “acted out of fear in defense of his friends and family.”
But the prosecution refuted that argument with Jimenez’s actions during and after the murders using Jimenez’s own testimony.
The prosecution pointed out that Jiménez knew that the victims were innocent and he did not have to kill them, but that he had decided to do so 20 minutes before shooting them, even though the voices urging him to do so had fallen silent.
The prosecution argued that Jiménez “knew he had done something morally wrong and fled” and “no one ordered him to do anything or threatened him.”
Kenyon said that because of legal rules, Jimenez had to testify at his own insanity trial.
“I don’t think Joseph told a lie in his mind on that stand, but the reality was that he damaged his own case,” he said.
During Monday’s sentencing, Anthony’s father held his son’s photograph and spoke about the decisions that led to his son’s murder.
“You stole the lives of two young people with so much potential to do great things,” Brian Barajas told Jiménez. “Anthony was so full of life and touched so many lives in a positive way.” Anthony’s two sisters also confronted Jimenez and spoke about the cost and loss their family has suffered. His older sister, Julia, did it when he turned 24.
“I want justice and I want peace for my family. It’s time for us to put this part behind us and start to fully recover,” he said.
Jimenez previously withdrew his pleas of not guilty to two counts of murder and not guilty by reason of insanity. Instead of a criminal trial, a judge heard the case and determined Jiménez’s mental state at the time of the murders.
City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.