A popular TikTok star, Anthony Barajas, shot during a Monday night screening of “The Forever Purge” in Corona, California, has died of his injuries, Corona police confirmed on Saturday. He was 19.
“The Corona Police Department has been notified that Anthony Barajas passed away early this morning. We extend our thoughts and condolences to his family and friends,” the Corona police said in a statement on Saturday.
They are working with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office to add an additional count of first-degree murder against Joseph Jimenez, the Corona Police added in the release.
Barajas and Rylee Goodrich, 18, were having their first date at a screening of “The Forever Purge” on Monday at The Crossings mall in Corona when they were both shot in the head in what authorities described as “an unprovoked attack.”
Goodrich was pronounced dead at the scene, while Barajas was rush to a local hospital and on life support until late Friday night.
20-year-old Joseph Jimenez was arrested on Tuesday night for suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and robbery.
During the investigation, police said the officials received witness statements that led to locating and arresting suspect Joseph Jimenez, 20-years-old of unincorporated Corona, CA.
Joseph Jimenez, 20, was arrested on July 27 and charged with murder, attempted murder, and robbery Photo: Corona Police Department
During the search of the residence, a firearm and additional evidence related to the crime scene was discovered. The firearm matched the caliber of the weapon used in the murder, police said.
The suspect Jimenez is booked at Riverside Presley Detention Center and is being held on $2 million bail, police said in the release.
The condition of the second victim remains unchanged. Based on statements obtained, there is no known motive, and it appears to be an unprovoked attack, the Corona Department Police said.
Workers at the theater discovered the bodies of Barajas and Goodrich while they were cleaning up the theater after the screening. That theater had been mostly empty, with less than 10 people inside.
Barajas was popular on social media for his humor, with more than 972K followers on TikTok. He attended Mater Dei High in Santa Ana and played soccer.
Goodrich’s father, David Goodrich, told DailyMail that the couple was on their first date when they attended the movie together after meeting at a party over the Fourth of July weekend.
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