A chilling tale has emerged from California, where pastor Samuel Pasillas, 47, stands accused of arranging a murder-for-hire plot against his daughter's boyfriend. The shocking incident, which unfolded in October 2023, involved Pasillas purportedly paying hitmen nearly $40,000 to target the man romantically linked to his daughter.
According to the Riverside Police Department, Pasillas allegedly met with the hired men and provided them with information about the victim, including his whereabouts leading up to the shooting. Surveillance was reportedly conducted on the victim in the weeks prior to the attack.
The victim, who remains unidentified, was shot multiple times while driving in the Orangecrest neighborhood of Riverside around 7 p.m. on October 21, 2023. Despite the ordeal, he managed to drive himself to a nearby hospital for treatment and is said to still be in recovery after five months.
Pasillas, who is the pastor at Centro Internacional de Oracion in Victorville, Calif., now faces a slew of felony charges, including solicitation for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. Although he has pleaded not guilty, the gravity of the accusations has sent shockwaves through the community.
Another suspect, Juan Manuel Cebreros, 55, is believed to be one of the gunmen involved in the plot. He has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. Both men are presently detained at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, with bail set at $1 million each.
While Pasillas' motive for the murder-for-hire scheme remains undisclosed, some speculate that religious beliefs may have played a role. The case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of human nature and the potential consequences of misguided actions.
As the investigation unfolds, the community grapples with the shocking betrayal and the implications of this harrowing tale of familial discord and violence.
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