Corona, California – A man who pleaded guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of TikTok star Anthony Barajas and his date, Rylee Goodrich, has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Joseph Jimenez Jr. received a life sentence without the possibility of parole during his hearing on Monday. Additionally, he was given a term of 100 years to life – 25 to life for each murder, and another 25 to life for using a firearm during the felony.
The tragic incident occurred in July 2021, when Jimenez Jr. shot the two teenagers during a screening of “The Forever Purge” at a Regal Edwards Theater in Corona. Goodrich lost her life on the spot, while Barajas passed away in a hospital a few days later. The discovery of their bodies only happened when theater employees entered for post-movie cleanup.
Barajas, a 19-year-old with a substantial TikTok following of around 930,000, was on a first date with 18-year-old Goodrich at the time of the shooting. The sentencing brought relief to Anthony’s mother, Catherine Barajas, who expressed a desire to close this chapter and focus on honoring her son’s legacy through acts of kindness.
During the trial, Jimenez Jr. testified that he believed the voices commanding him to kill were real, leading him to shoot the teens- the only others present during the movie screening. He tearfully admitted to knowing his actions were wrong before stealing Goodrich’s wallet. He recognized afterward that the voices were a product of his mind, describing the murders as surreal decisions made in the heat of the moment.
In defense of her brother, Daisy Jimenez explained how Joseph began hearing voices following their mother’s passing and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia with paranoid hallucinations. Despite recognizing his mental health issues, the judge pointed out that Jimenez failed to consistently take his medication, indicating neglect of his condition.
Throughout the trial, evidence of Jimenez’s behavior before and after the event, such as his warnings to friends about the gun and seemingly normal interactions with theater staff, played a significant role in the judge’s decision. Despite acknowledging Jimenez’s struggle with schizophrenia, the judge concluded that his failure to manage his mental health appropriately contributed to the tragic outcome.