(LibertyInsider.org) – On October 21, 2023, a man was out driving when another vehicle pulled up to him in the Orangecrest neighborhood of Riverside, California. The occupants opened fire, hitting and wounding the unnamed victim, who drove to the hospital for treatment. Police were called to the hospital and immediately began investigating the case. Nearly five months later, they made multiple arrests in what they’re calling a “murder-for-hire” plot.
In a news release dated Tuesday, March 19, the Riverside Police Department announced it had arrested two suspects in the shooting, 47-year-old Samuel Pasillas, a pastor at Centro Internacional de Oracion in Victorville, and 55-year-old Juan Manuel Cebreros. The victim had reportedly been dating Pasillas’ daughter.
California church pastor Samuel Pasillas allegedly paid hitman $40K to kill daughter’s boyfriend in murder-for-hire plot https://t.co/owEdblhEBl pic.twitter.com/yLehNiAhXl
— New York Post (@nypost) March 20, 2024
Authorities detailed the plot, which they say involved Pasillas meeting with several men and giving them information, including the victim’s location on the night of the shooting. In the weeks leading up to the shooting, the men surveilled him before taking action. For their efforts, Pasillas allegedly paid them $40,000. After serving out search warrants in three locations, Long Beach, Lynwood, and Victorville, police made the arrests.
The victim has since been released from the hospital and is still recovering from the injuries sustained in the shooting.
Both men are facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. Pasillas faces an additional charge of solicitation for murder. They’re both being held on $1 million bail at Riverside’s Robert Presley Detention Center. At their arraignment, Pasillas and Cebreros pleaded not guilty. They are due back in court on March 26.
The news release mentioned other men, and according to the Los Angeles Times, a third man has not yet been arrested, but it’s not clear how many others may be involved. Authorities are still investigating and have asked anyone with information to reach out to Detective Nic Cantino.
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