Police in California arrested and charged a Victorville pastor last week on suspicion of contacting a hitman in a plot to kill his daughter’s boyfriend.
Riverside authorities say Samuel Pasillas, 47, offered Juan Manuel Cebreros, 55, and others nearly $40,000 to kill his daughter’s boyfriend in October 2023.
“During the investigation, detectives met with men hired by the father and found evidence that they provided information about the victim, including his location, on the night of the shooting,” Riverside Police said in a press release Tuesday. Stated. “Detectives also discovered that these men were paid approximately $40,000 by the father to monitor the victim in the weeks leading up to the shooting.”
On Oct. 21 of last year, Riverside Police initially responded to a hospital call of a person who had just arrived with gunshot wounds in a shooting that occurred in the Orangecrest neighborhood around 7 p.m. that day.
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Riverside police arrested Victorville pastor Samuel Pasillas on March 13 in connection with a murder-for-hire plot to kill his daughter’s boyfriend. (Riverside PD)
The adult male victim said he was driving when another vehicle pulled up next to him and someone inside the vehicle began firing shots at him. Police said he was struck several times.
The victim then drove himself to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
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Riverside police also arrested Juan Manuel Cebreros, pictured as the alleged killer of Samuel Pasillas. (Riverside PD)
Officers were able to recover evidence from the shooting scene.
In the subsequent investigation, the Riverside Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Unit, Problem-Oriented Policing Team, and Crime Analysis Unit determined that the shooting was a murder-for-hire plot.
The victim was driving in Riverside, California, when another car pulled up next to him and someone inside began firing shots at the victim. (Riverside PD)
Police said, “The victim was in a relationship with a woman whose father was a pastor at a Spanish-speaking church in Victorville,” and named Pasillas as a suspect.
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The 47-year-old pastor is charged with inciting murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held on $1 million bail.
Riverside Police were able to recover evidence from the shooting scene in October 2023. (Riverside PD)
Authorities subsequently arrested Cebreros on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. The suspected killer is also being held on $1 million bail.
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The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, but Riverside Police said no further details have been reported at this time. Authorities are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact police. Nic Cantino (951) 353-7104 or NCantino@RiversideCA.gov. Anonymous tipsters can also submit their information to RPDTips@RiversideCA.gov or through the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app.
