Arrest Made In Deadly Corona Movie Theater Shooting

CORONA, CA — An arrest has been made following a deadly shooting Monday night inside the Crossings movie theater in Corona that left one teen dead and another critically wounded.

Joseph Jimenez, 20, of unincorporated Corona was arrested at 8 p.m. Tuesday on Envoy Avenue, about 2 miles north of the Regal Edwards Corona Crossings movie plex where the shootings occurred.

Jimenez was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside at 4:07 a.m. Wednesday on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and robbery with a gun. He was being held without bail, according to jail records.

During a search of the Envoy Avenue residence, a firearm and additional evidence related to the crime were found, according to the Corona Police Department.

"The firearm matched the caliber of the weapon used in the murder," police said.

During a search of the theater following the shootings, evidence was collected but a gun was not found, police confirmed.

"Detectives are conducting follow-up on all investigative leads with hopes of identifying the person(s) responsible for this heinous crime," the Corona Police Department said in an update late Tuesday.

The trail to Jimenez was provided by witness statements, police said. He is due in court Friday.

The investigation and arrest were conducted in partnership with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau – Forensic Services personnel and the Riverside County Gang Impact Team.

Corona police said that although the gang task force assisted in the investigation, the victims had no gang-related ties.

"Based on statements obtained, there is no known motive and it appears to be an unprovoked attack," Corona police said. There was no word on whether Jimenez knew the victims.

Police responded to the movie plex at 2650 Tucscany Street at around 11:45 p.m. Monday. Inside a theater, they found Corona residents Rylee Goodrich, 18, and Anthony Barajas, 19, wounded by gunfire. Goodrich was pronounced dead at the scene and Barajas was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

According to an update Wednesday morning from Corona police, Barajas remains on life support.

GoFundMe pages for the victims' families have been established. The page for Goodrich can be found here, and the page for Barajas here.

Both victims were watching a 9:35 p.m. showing of "The Forever Purge." They attended the movie together, police said.

The "Purge" horror series is based on a plot in which, just once a year, the government allows all crime. The latest sequel involves a story in which "the annual Purge does not stop at daybreak and instead should never end," according to ads for "The Forever Purge."

Anyone who has additional information about the case is asked to call the Corona Police Department anonymous TIP Line at 951-817-5837 or contact Senior Detective Slaven Neagu at 951-739-4916 or email him at Slaven.Neagu@CoronaCA.gov.