Months after a man survived a hail of gunfire while driving in Riverside, investigators have arrested two men in an alleged murder-for-hire plot, including a Victorville pastor who authorities say beat up the man dating his daughter.
The pastor, identified Tuesday as Samuel Pasillas, 47, is accused of paying nearly $40,000 to kill his daughter's fiancé, according to the Riverside Police Department. Investigators said Pasillas provided information about his friend to the men he paid, including the man's location the night he was shot in October.
Juan Manuel Cebreros, left, and Samuel Pasillas are shown in booking photos.
(Riverside Police Department)
The killers, who police say included 55-year-old Juan Manuel Cebreros, had surveilled their friend for weeks before the shooting, said Ryan Railsback, a police department spokesman.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was shot multiple times on Oct. 21 when a car pulled up next to his and a gunman opened fire, Railsback said.
The victim drove himself to the hospital and has since been released, but is still recovering from the gunshot wounds, Railsback said.
Pasillas is a pastor at a small Spanish-speaking church, Centro Internacional de Oracion, in Victorville, where he also lives, Railsback said. He was arrested last week on suspicion of solicitation of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to Riverside County Superior Court records.
The Times was unable to reach anyone from Pasilas Church. His attorney, listed in court records as Deputy Public Defender Drew Ogdon, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pasillas remains in jail on $1 million bail, along with Cebreros, of Long Beach, who was booked on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
A third man linked to the case has not yet been arrested, court records show. It was not immediately clear how many people were connected to the shooting, and Railsback said the investigation is ongoing.
