Pastor Pays Long Beach 'Hitman' To Kill Daughter's Boyfriend: Police

LONG BEACH, CA —A Long Beach man and another Los Angeles County resident were hired by an Inland Empire pastor to kill his daughter's boyfriend, who managed to survive a hail of gunfire in Riverside last October, the Riverside Police Department announced Tuesday.

Samuel Davalos Pasillas, 47, pastor of Centro Internacional de Oracion in Victorville, and suspected hitman Juan Manuel Cebreros, 55, of Long Beach, were arrested on Mar. 13, according to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback.

An arrest warrant was filed for Jesus Abel Felix Garcia, the third man suspected in the murderous conspiracy. As of Wednesday morning, he was still being sought by detectives.

Pasillas is charged with solicitation of murder, attempted murder, firearm assault, and conspiracy to commit murder, while Cebreros and Garcia are charged identically, except for the solicitation count.

The murder-for-hire plot began when Pasillas paid Cebrero and Garcia to kill the man who was dating his daughter, according to Railsback. Pasillas disapproved of the match, according to police.

The father met with the would-be killers and shared information about his daughter's boyfriend, including where he would be the night of the shooting, according to Railsback.

"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," Railsback added in a written statement.

The night of Oct. 21, Cebreros and Garcia pulled up alongside the boyfriend's car and shot him repeatedly as he drove on Grove Community Drive near Plainview Street, Railsback said.

"The victim drove himself to the hospital and was treated for his injuries," Railsback said. At the hospital, the victim described the attack to officers, saying "the assailants pulled alongside him and opened fire, wounding him."

He has since recovered from the attack.

On March 13, detectives served search warrants at homes in Victorville, Long Beach, and Lynwood.Pasillas and Cebreros were both taken into custody without incident the same day.

During a joint arraignment on Monday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, both Pasillas and Cebreros entered not-guilty pleas. They are slated to appear for a felony settlement conference on Mar. 26. Each man is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to court records, none of the defendants have prior documented convictions in Riverside County.

This investigation is ongoing, according to Railsback.

"Anyone with additional information should contact Detective Nic Cantino at 951-353-7104 or [email protected]," he said. "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. "