Man was sane when he fatally shot 2 inside Corona theater showing "The Forever Purge," judge rules

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- The man accused of fatally shooting two teenagers at a Corona movie theater in July 2021 was ruled sane at the time of killings and will be sentenced to state prison.

Closing arguments were heard Tuesday in the insanity trial of Joseph Jimenez, who prosecutors say shot and killed 18-year old Rylee Goodrich and 19-year old Anthony Barajas during a screening of the film "The Forever Purge" at the Regal Edwards Theater at the Crossings at Corona.

Defense attorney Charles Kenyon argued Jimenez was not rational at the time and in the throes of schizophrenia when he shot the teens.

"We all agree that schizophrenia caused this," he said. "Joseph Jimenez is not a bad person, but the legal burden is what it is. At the end of the day, unarmed people have their backs turned to you that don't appear to overtly present a threat is not under, any circumstance, something you can defend from an objective perspective."

During closing arguments, Kenyon told the court Jimenez "was misguided by the voices" and "in the theater, he thought he had no options." He also said Jimenez 'was acting out of fear in defense of his friends and family."

But the prosecution countered that argument with Jimenez's actions during and after the murders using Jimenez's own testimony.

The prosecution pointed out Jimenez knew the victims were innocent and didn't have to kill them, but that he had made up his mind to do so 20 minutes prior to shooting them even though the voices that urged him on had gone silent.

The prosecution argued Jimenez "knew he did something morally wrong and fled" and "no one was commanding him to do anything or threatening him."

Kenyon said due to legal rules, Jimenez had to testify in his own insanity trial.

"I don't think Joseph told a lie in his own mind up on that stand, but the reality was he hurt his own case," he said.

Jimenez previously withdrew his not guilty pleas on two counts of murder and not guilty by reason of insanity. Instead of a criminal trial, a judge heard the case and determined Jimenez's state of mind at the time of the murders.

In a statement to Eyewitness News, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in part, "This will not bring back the lives of Anthony and Rylee, but it will bring a measure of justice for their families. "

Jimenez is expected to be sentenced to state prison on Feb. 26.