A San Bernardino resident, Christian Isaiah Jimenez, has been handed a sentence of 40 years to life in state prison for the 2019 murder of Alberto Rafael Sosa Alvarez outside a home in Cathedral City. Jimenez, aged 24, was convicted on June 13 for the shooting and also found guilty of the charge of discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury. The sentence was passed on Monday morning, as confirmed by court records.
During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Jenna Barsamian informed the jury in her opening statements that Jimenez had attended a small party in Cathedral City in August 2019, where he was among approximately six unfamiliar individuals invited by the host. At one point during the gathering, Jimenez excused himself to use the bathroom. When the host noticed the light on in her parents’ room, she went to investigate and discovered Jimenez and one of his friends inside, leading her to believe they were stealing property.
Upon being discovered, Jimenez and his companion hastily departed as the host raised an alarm to the other guests. However, Jimenez returned to the house twice, once to collect two friends and again later that night. It was during this second return that Sosa approached Jimenez, who made it clear that he was armed. Jurors were informed by Barsamian that Jimenez issued a warning, verbally threatening Sosa before firing the fatal shot that ended Sosa’s life. Instead of rendering aid, Jimenez left Sosa in agony on the street, treating him as disposable. All of this was over an alleged theft.
Jimenez’s defense attorney, John Patrick, argued that his client had not stolen anything and had left the party due to false accusations. He stated that Jimenez returned to explain himself when Sosa aggressively approached his vehicle, hurling insults and demanding the return of the stolen property. Patrick claimed that Jimenez believed he was acting in self-defense when he shot Sosa, fearing for his own life.
Sosa was discovered with gunshot wounds on a sidewalk in the 68300 block of Madrid Road after multiple 911 calls reported a disturbance in the area around 12:50 a.m. The Cathedral City Police Department immediately responded, providing life-saving efforts until paramedics arrived. Unfortunately, Sosa succumbed to his injuries at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
Jimenez was eventually apprehended on September 3, 2019, at a residence in the 1900 block of Clary Drive in Needles, following a police investigation.
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