In July 2021, two teenagers were shot during a movie screening in Corona, California. Eighteen-year-old Rylee Goodrich died at the scene and nineteen-year-old Anthony Barajas died days later.
The Victims
Anthony Barajas was a 19-year-old resident of California known for his friendly personality and wide social reach. He had gained public attention through social media where his videos showed everyday activities such as singing, spending time with family and traveling.
Despite his online popularity, people who knew him described him as grounded and approachable. His parents, Brian and Catherine Barajas, stated that Anthony had an unusual ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds.
He was active in sports, including soccer and trained in martial arts. His online presence reflected his real life and did not show signs of aggression or instability.
Rylee Goodrich was 18 years old and lived in Corona, California. She was a cheerleader and played volleyball. She had recently received a scholarship to attend Grand Canyon University where she planned to study marketing.
Friends and teachers described her as focused, social and dependable. She had an active social media presence where she shared updates about school, friends and family life. During the summer of 2021, Rylee was visiting home before returning to school.
Anthony and Rylee met on July 4, 2021, during a holiday gathering. They had not known each other before that day. After meeting, they stayed in contact and decided to go on a formal first date later that month.
Rylee informed her family about Anthony and her parents met him before the date. According to her family, the meeting was positive. Anthony brought gifts from a recent trip to Hawaii for Rylee and her family. This action was noted by her father as respectful and thoughtful.
‘She met this guy over summer, I think at a party on the third or fourth of July. My first inkling, he was this TikTok influencer, and I rolled my eyes like ‘are you kidding me? Really, that’s your future?’ But her mom was very much give the guy a chance,’ David said.
Neither teenager had any known conflicts or connections to criminal activity. They had no prior interaction with the person who would later kill them. Their meeting and plans followed ordinary social patterns typical for people their age.
The Evening of July 26, 2021
On the evening of July 26, 2021, Anthony Barajas and Rylee Goodrich went on their first official date. Anthony picked Rylee up and took her to Wood Ranch, a restaurant she liked, the Fox 11 Los Angeles reports.
According to text messages later reviewed by investigators and family members, the dinner was calm and uneventful.
After dinner, the pair went to the Regal Edwards Theater in Corona, California. They purchased tickets for the 9:35 p.m. showing of The Forever Purge. Theater records later confirmed that only six tickets were sold for that showing. The screening took place in Theater 1.
The theater was mostly empty.
Rylee texted her mother during the movie. Her last message stated that the film was not very interesting but that she was enjoying the date. That message was sent shortly before the shooting occurred.
David Goodrich: “She texted my wife how boring and stupid it was, how she didn’t like the movie. That was the last we heard from her. It had to be right then.”
Anthony and Rylee were seated together and facing the screen. They were not interacting with anyone else in the theater. They did not notice anyone approaching them.
At some point during the screening, a man seated several rows behind them stood up and moved toward their location. The sound of the movie which included gunfire and loud effects, continued playing. No one inside the theater reacted.
“No one apparently heard the gunshot,” Regal staffer Kailyn Dillon told local station KCAL. “I know that we do have security bag checks that we do on the daily, and unfortunately, I’m not sure if it just was missed or if it was in a holster on their belt.”
Rylee Goodrich was shot once in the back of the head. She died instantly. Anthony Barajas was then shot through the eye. The bullet entered his brain, causing catastrophic injuries. A third shot was fired, though it did not strike another person.
Neither victim had an opportunity to respond or escape. The shooting occurred without warning.
Discovery After the Film Ended
The movie ended without interruption. No emergency call was made from inside the theater during the screening. Staff members began their routine cleaning process after the final credits.
An employee entered Theater 1 expecting to find empty seats and trash. Instead, they found Rylee Goodrich and Anthony Barajas slumped in their chairs with visible blood. Rylee showed no signs of life. Anthony was breathing but unresponsive.
Emergency services were called immediately. Paramedics arrived and confirmed Rylee Goodrich was deceased at the scene. Anthony Barajas was placed on life support and transported to a hospital.
Goodrich’s cousin, Ashley Cole: “You don’t expect to get home from work and then finding out that your cousin was shot in the back of the head. When there are only six people in a movie theater, to me, that’s not what I imagine someone that’s not going with intentions to kill someone to do.”
Police officers secured the theater and began an initial assessment. The scene showed no signs of a struggle. No shell casings were visible to the public area. The darkness of the theater and the absence of witnesses limited early information.
Anthony was unable to speak or provide information. Doctors later confirmed that the bullet had caused severe brain damage.
Security footage from inside the theater did not capture the shooting itself. However, exterior cameras showed a man leaving the theater and running to his vehicle at approximately 11:28 p.m.
Police confirmed that only six people were present for the showing. This detail significantly narrowed the pool of potential suspects.
The theater closed temporarily during the investigation. Law enforcement began collecting ticket records, surveillance footage and witness statements.
The Suspect and Events Inside the Theater
The suspect was later identified as Joseph Jimenez Jr., age 20. He attended the movie with three friends. According to their statements, Jimenez was behaving erratically before and during the film. Earlier that evening, they noticed him muttering to himself and appearing distracted, per ABC 7 News.
During the movie, Jimenez kept mumbling to himself and reacting to things no one else could see. His friends felt uncomfortable and started getting worried about how he was acting.
At one point, Jimenez stood up and told his friends he was going to the restroom. Instead, he went to the parking lot and retrieved a firearm from his vehicle. He returned to the theater carrying a small box.
One of the friends asked what was inside the box. Jimenez responded that it contained a gun. After hearing this, the three friends left the theater together. They stated they were afraid but did not notify theater staff, security or law enforcement.
After his friends left, Jimenez remained inside the theater. According to his later confession, he believed that people in the theater intended to harm him. He stated that voices were telling him he was in danger.
Jimenez walked toward the seated couple and fired his weapon from close range. After the shooting, he took Rylee Goodrich’s wallet and then exited the theater.
His actions inside and outside the theater were later used by prosecutors to argue that he understood his behavior and acted with intent.
Investigation and Arrest
Investigators reviewed ticket sales and surveillance footage. Since only six tickets were sold, police focused on identifying all attendees. Tips received by law enforcement led them to Jimenez’s residence on Envoy Street in El Cerrito.
The day after the shooting, officers searched his trailer. Inside, they found a firearm matching the caliber used in the attack. They also recovered Rylee Goodrich’s wallet and a movie ticket stub from The Forever Purge showing.
Ballistics testing later confirmed that the recovered gun was used in the shooting. Jimenez was arrested and taken into custody.
Initially, Jimenez denied involvement. After further questioning and after his friends provided statements, he confessed. He claimed he had schizophrenia and had stopped taking his prescribed medication days earlier because he could not afford a refill.
Jimenez stated that he heard voices, including one he identified as “Abigail,” telling him that people intended to kill him. He claimed he bought the gun for protection.
Police documented his statements but continued to rely on physical evidence, witness accounts and video footage.
The case was formally charged and Jimenez entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Anthony Barajas’ Death and Organ Donation
Anthony Barajas remained on life support for five days following the shooting. Doctors monitored his condition but his injuries were irreversible. The bullet had caused massive brain damage.
On July 31, 2021, physicians informed his family that Anthony was brain dead. Life support was withdrawn shortly afterward.
Anthony’s family chose to donate his organs. Multiple recipients benefited from the donation. His family stated that this decision reflected Anthony’s character and values.
Public attention followed Anthony’s condition due to his online following. Thousands of people posted messages of support during the days he remained hospitalized.
Memorials were held for both victims and community members gathered to honor their lives. Vigils included friends, classmates and family members.
Rylee Goodrich’s family also held services to remember her school achievements and the plans she had for the future. Both families were deeply affected by the loss. Their relatives shared statements about how sudden everything was and how empty life felt without them.
Trial and Legal Findings
The legal process lasted nearly three years. During the trial, prosecutors presented video recordings Jimenez had made on his phone earlier on the day of the shooting. The videos showed him speaking normally and interacting without visible distress.
Experts confirmed that Jimenez had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, testimony indicated that he was aware of his actions at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors said his choice to get a gun, go back into the theater and take Rylee’s wallet showed that he knew what he was doing.
Carlos Gonzalez, one of Jimenez’s friends, later testified about how Jimenez acted before and during the movie. He explained that they left because they were scared.
The judge ruled that Jimenez was legally sane during the crime. The insanity defense was rejected.
In February 2024, Joseph Jimenez Jr. was convicted of the murders of Rylee Goodrich and Anthony Barajas. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
At court, he was confronted by Goodrich’s father. “Hey, look at me, bro! Look at me! Look at me, dude! That was my …” the distraught parent said before breaking down in tears to be comforted by a friend, according to Dailymail.
Aftermath and Ongoing Questions
The Regal Edwards Theater later reopened with added security measures, including bag checks. Metal detectors were not installed.
Rylee’s father later spoke out and questioned why movie theaters do not have the same security as sports events.
The case raised concerns about access to mental health treatment and medication affordability.
Anthony’s social media accounts remain active as memorials. Rylee’s scholarship and academic plans were acknowledged by her school community.
No legal action was taken against the friends who left the theater.
