A senseless act of violence during a movie date leads to a life sentence without parole for the perpetrator

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a young couple’s first date at a cinema ended in tragedy when they were fatally shot by 23-year-old Joseph Jimenez Jr. The incident occurred at the Regal Edwards Corona Crossings theatre in California on July 26, 2021, during a screening of the horror movie “Forever Purge.”

Rylee Goodrich, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene, while her date, 19-year-old TikTok star Anthony Barajas, succumbed to his injuries five days later in the hospital. Anthony Barajas, who had nearly a million followers on TikTok, had expressed his excitement about finding love shortly before the tragic event. Goodrich, a sophomore at Grand Canyon University, was also an entrepreneur with her own eyelash business.

The shooter, Jimenez Jr, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. Despite pleading not guilty by reason of insanity and claiming to suffer from schizophrenia, the court ruled that he was sane at the time of the shooting. Jimenez Jr had reported hearing voices in his head, compelling him to commit the murders to protect himself from perceived threats.

In a chilling detail, it was revealed that Jimenez Jr stole Goodrich’s wallet from her body before fleeing the scene. The judge noted that while Jimenez Jr did suffer from mental health issues, he had not been managing his condition appropriately by regularly taking his medication.

The sentencing brings some closure to a case that has shocked and saddened many, highlighting the devastating impact of untreated mental health issues and the senseless loss of two young lives.