SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN MURDER FOR HIRE INVESTIGATION
Published: 03/19/2024
SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN MURDER FOR HIRE INVESTIGATION
RIVERSIDE, CA – On Saturday evening, 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 7:00 p.m. in the Orangecrest neighborhood of Riverside. The male adult victim stated he was driving on Grove Community Drive approaching Plainview Street when another vehicle pulled up alongside him. Gunfire came from this 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 with our Robbery-Homicide Unit conducted follow-up investigation and were assisted by our Problem Oriented Policing Team and Crime Analysis Unit. They subsequently learned this was a murder-for-hire shooting. The victim had been dating a woman whose father is a pastor for a Spanish-speaking church in the city of 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 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 Wednesday, March 13th and with the assistance from our METRO Team, detectives served search warrants at homes in Victorville, Long Beach, and Lynwood. Samuel 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.
Juan Manuel Cebreros, 55-years-old of Long Beach, was arrested and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. He is also being held on one million dollars’ bail.
This investigation is still ongoing and there are no other details to release at this time. Anyone with additional information should contact Detective Nic Cantino at (951) 353-7104 or [email protected]. Those wishing to remain anonymous can email [email protected], or download and use the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app by utilizing the “Send a Message” feature. Our app can be downloaded here at APPLE or ANDROID.
