TikTok star Anthony Barajas died Saturday, five days after he was gunned down with his date in a California movie theater.
Barajas, 19, had been on life support since Monday, when he and 18-year-old Rylee Goodrich were shot while watching a screening of “The Forever Purge” in Corona, California. It was the couple’s first date.
Goodrich died instantly from the gunshot wound to her head. Barajas, a TikTok personality with more than 1 million followers, was shot in the eye.
Early Saturday, his friend Malik Earnest, a San Diego reporter who had been sharing updates for several days, tweeted, “I want to thank everyone who lifted Anthony in prayer. The injuries to his brain were irreparable. July 30th at 11 p.m., Anthony was wheeled down an ‘honor walk’ where he would ultimately donate his organs so others may live. Please continue to pray for his family and friends.”
Joseph Jimenez, 20, was arrested late Tuesday and charged with the unprovoked attack. Cops said he appeared to have no connection to the couple, who were on their first date.
Goodrich’s father, David, said his daughter had met Barajas over July 4 weekend.
Barajas took Goodrich to “her favorite restaurant” before they went to see the latest installment of “The Purge,” the dad said. She had texted her mother during the movie that she thought dystopian flick boring and stupid.
Just six tickets were sold for the screening, and the young couple’s bodies were only discovered once the show was over. Cops said it was unclear how many people were in the theater at the time of the shootings.
Witnesses helped cops track Jimenez down, and he was arrested at his home, where police found a gun matching the caliber of the murder weapon, the Corona Police Department said. According to TMZ, he also had Goodrich’s wallet.
Goodrich’s father confronted the alleged gunman as he appeared in court Friday.
The heartbroken dad called Jimenez several times as he was led through the courtroom in handcuffs. “Hey, look at me, bro! Look at me! Look at me, dude! That was my …” the he said, before breaking down in tears in a friend’s arms.
Jimenez was charged Friday by the Riverside County district attorney’s office with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles Times.
