In a chilling turn of events, surveillance footage has captured the moment when a successful businesswoman, Yessenia Torres, was shot and killed outside a restaurant in broad daylight.
The shocking incident took place in San Bernardino, California, on January 10.
Torres, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene, right in the doorway of Burger Point.
Estranged Husband Behind the Tragic Death
Authorities have revealed that the murder was a part of a hired plot orchestrated by Torres’ estranged husband, 53-year-old Sergio Reveles.
The couple had been embroiled in a contentious divorce for two years, and police now believe Reveles arranged for four men to carry out the murder.
Detective Dominic Martinez, who spoke to the press, confirmed that the suspects had been stalking Torres for months prior to the crime.
The Day of the Murder: A Deadly Encounter
On the day of the murder, just after noon, Torres was seen leaving Burger Point and getting into her Mercedes SUV. That’s when a Ford Escape pulled up behind her.
The gunman, later identified as 31-year-old Geraldo Llamas-Torres, approached Torres as she was getting into her car.
What followed was a tense struggle.
Torres, in an attempt to defend herself, hit the gunman with her purse and tried to grab the weapon.
A good Samaritan rushed out of the restaurant to help, but as soon as Llamas-Torres fired his weapon, the bystander quickly retreated.
The gunman chased Torres around her vehicle multiple times, and as she tried to run back inside the restaurant, she was shot.
Torres was ultimately struck, and Llamas-Torres delivered the fatal shot, firing a total of nine rounds during the attack.
Eyewitnesses Help Police Track Down the Suspects
This brazen attack occurred in full view of the restaurant’s patrons and employees, according to Police Chief Darren Goodman.
Fortunately, an eyewitness was able to provide critical information to the police by identifying the license plate of the Ford Escape used by the suspects.
The vehicle was later found abandoned in a Walmart parking lot.
Authorities traced the suspects to another vehicle, which they found at a different business.
The suspects had changed clothes and briefly entered the establishment before fleeing the scene.
Arrests Made and Further Investigations Uncover Shocking Details
On January 16, after a series of coordinated searches across Los Angeles and Bakersfield, authorities arrested Llamas-Torres and his getaway driver, 54-year-old Arnoldo Ruelas.
Police also discovered a large sum of cash on the suspects, though investigators initially suspected there was more to the story than a simple robbery.
The breakthrough came when detectives discovered that Ruelas’ brother, Reynaldo Ruelas, had ties to the victim.
Reynaldo worked at a property owned by both Torres and her estranged husband, Reveles.
It was also revealed that Reynaldo served as a middleman between Reveles and a business partner, Juan Perez, who ran a pallet company on the property.
Additional Arrests and Charges Follow
As the investigation progressed, police arrested both Reynaldo Ruelas and Juan Perez on February 6.
Authorities seized over $286,000 in cash and several firearms during their search.
All five individuals involved in the plot now face charges of murder, robbery, and other serious crimes, including special circumstances for financial gain and lying in wait.
The suspects have all pleaded not guilty and are currently being held without bail.
Their pre-preliminary court hearing is set for March 14.
The case has left the community in shock as authorities continue to unravel the details of this tragic murder-for-hire plot.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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