Victims of Corona movie theater shooting honored at vigil

Mourners gathered during a candlelight vigil and memorial at the movie theater for Rylee Goodrich, 18, and Anthony Barajas, 19, who were fatally shot in the July 26 shooting at the Regal Edwards movie theater in Corona on Saturday, July 31, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People gathered for a candlelight vigil and memorial at the movie theater for Rylee Goodrich, 18, and Anthony Barajas, 19, who were fatally shot July 26 at the Regal Edwards movie theater in Corona on Saturday, July 31, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dave Goodrich, front center, is somber during a candlelight vigil and memorial outside the movie theater for his daughter, Rylee Goodrich, 18, and friend, Anthony Barajas, 19, who were killed in the July 26 shooting at the Regal Edwards movie theater in Corona on Saturday, July 31, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
People leave flowers during a candlelight vigil and memorial at the movie theater for Rylee Goodrich, 18, and Anthony Barajas, 19, who were killed in the July 26 shooting at the Regal Edwards movie theater in Corona on Saturday, July 31, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Summer Tiner, 21, right, wipes away tears as she and friend, Jonah Alcalde, 23, mourn during a candlelight vigil and memorial at the movie theater for Rylee Goodrich, 18, and Anthony Barajas, 19, who were killed in the July 26 shooting at the Regal Edwards movie theater in Corona on Saturday, July 31, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Mourners hug including Dave Goodrich, left, during a candlelight vigil and memorial outside the movie theater for his daughter, Rylee Goodrich, 18, and friend, Anthony Barajas, 19, who were killed in the July 26 shooting at the Regal Edwards movie theater in Corona on Saturday, July 31, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

About 200 mourners gathered for a candlelight vigil Saturday night at a Corona movie house to honor the two young people fatally shot there on Monday.

Anthony Barajas, 19, of Corona, died of his injuries Saturday. His friend, Rylee Goodrich, 18, also of Corona, died at the scene Monday evening at the Regal Edwards cinema.

Joseph Jimenez, 20, has been arrested in the shootings.

I am at the Regal Edwards cinema in Corona for a candlelight vigil for Rylee Goodrich and Anthony Barajas, who were shot to death here on July 26. pic.twitter.com/kCeA3heoKm

— Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) August 1, 2021

Shane said “Rylee was such a beautiful person and one of a kind,”’so much so, he said, that he couldn’t put it into words. “She was that special.” In her future, “She just wanted to succeed and make her parents proud.” She was also eager to have Shane meet Anthony.

— Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) August 1, 2021

Mourners brought flowers, candles and balloons and placed some of them beneath images of Goodrich and Barajas. Some said prayers. They mostly stood still, exchanging hugs as music softly played. One song’s lyrics included, “It’s hard to say goodbye.”

Shane Batilaran, 21, worked with Rylee Goodrich at a restaurant, where she became “my little sister.” She would call him from Grand Canyon University in Arizona and excitedly talk about school and making friends.

“Rylee was such a beautiful person and one of a kind,” he said. “She just wanted to succeed and make her parents proud.”

Messages were written in chalk on the pavement. One said “Anthony – I am so proud of you! I’m so happy I got to work with you.”

Another said “Ry + A – Thank you for being two of my biggest blessings.” T-shirts honoring Rylee were passed out, some saying “Rylee’s Girls” and others reading “Long Live Rylee.”

Dave Goodrich, father of Rylee, lit a candle in memory of his daughter.

“Rylee will be with us tonight, and once you feel her light within you, you may extinguish the candle,” a speaker said.

Rylee’s grandmother, Gretta Quinton, read a beautiful family poem that Rylee read a couple of months ago at a memorial service for Quinton’s husband. pic.twitter.com/fcwaUPrX4x

— Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) August 1, 2021

Barajas was a 2019 graduate of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana while Goodrich was a 2020 graduate of Corona High.