By SDCN Editor
Riverside, CA–A California pastor suspected of hiring hitmen to murder his daughter’s boyfriend was arrested by Riverside police officers on March 13, authorities said.
On October 21, 2023, Riverside police officers responded to a local hospital regarding a person who just arrived suffering from gunshot wounds from a shooting that occurred around 7 p.m. in the Orangecrest neighborhood of Riverside.
According to Riverside police, the male victim stated he was driving on Grove Community Drive approaching Plainview Street when another vehicle pulled up alongside him. Gunfire came from the other vehicle and he was struck several times. The victim drove himself to the hospital and was treated for his injuries, and officers located evidence of a shooting on Grove Community Drive and Plainview Street.
Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and were assisted by their Problem-Oriented Policing Team and Crime Analysis Unit. They discovered the shooting incident was a murder-for-hire. The victim had been dating a woman whose father is a pastor for a Spanish-speaking church in Victorville. The father was identified as 47-year-old Samuel Pasillas of Victorville.
During their investigation, detectives uncovered evidence the father met with the men he hired and provided them with information about the victim, including his location the evening of the shooting. Detectives also determined these men were paid almost $40,000 by the father and had conducted surveillance on the victim in the weeks leading up to when they shot him.
On March 13, detectives served search warrants at homes in Victorville, Long Beach, and Lynwood. Pasillas was arrested and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for solicitation for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently being held on one million dollars bail.
Detectives arrested 55-year-old Juan Manuel Cebreros, of Long Beach, and booked him into the Robert Presley Detention Center for conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held on one million dollars bail.
The investigation is still ongoing.
