Samuel Davalos Pasillas, a 47-year-old pastor from California, found himself in handcuffs recently, accused of orchestrating a plot to have his daughter’s boyfriend killed.
Last week, Riverside police took Pasillas into custody following an investigation that uncovered evidence linking him to the attempted murder of his daughter’s partner. The incident occurred on October 21, 2023, in Riverside, where the victim was ambushed while sitting in his car. Shot multiple times by assailants in another vehicle, he managed to survive by driving himself to a nearby hospital.
Though initially unable to provide much detail about the attackers, investigators eventually pieced together the puzzle, concluding it was a contracted hit, allegedly masterminded by Pastor Pasillas himself.
According to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback, Pasillas had facilitated the crime by furnishing the assailants with crucial information and paying them a hefty sum, nearly $40,000. “He actually provided information to these suspects that he hired,” Railsback stated in an interview with ABC Eyewitness News.
Following Pasillas’ arrest, authorities also apprehended one of the suspected hitmen, 55-year-old Juan Manuel Cebreros from Long Beach. However, they are still looking for a third individual, Jesus Abel Felix Garcia.
Both Pasillas and Cebreros have entered pleas of not guilty during their joint arraignment at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Nevertheless, they remain in custody at the Robert Presley Jail on $1 million bail pending their felony settlement conference scheduled for March 26.
Reports from the Riverside Police Department suggest that Pasillas had met with the alleged gunmen, provided them with payment, and disclosed details about the victim’s whereabouts on the night of the shooting.
The motive behind Pasillas’ actions appears to stem from his disapproval of his daughter’s relationship with the victim. Unable to persuade her to end the association, Pasillas purportedly resorted to extreme measures to sever the tie.
