On June 19, 2003 Tonatihu Aguilar was sentenced for the following:
MARICOPA COUNTY CR 2002-006143, Count 1, First Degree Murder (of Jonathan
Bria), committed on or about September 21, 1996, sentenced to DEATH by Lethal
Injection.
On September 21, 1996 Jonathan Bria, David Glover, Steve Thorstensen, Wesley
D. Ray, David T. Nguyen, David Rehana and Michael S. Bowling all attended an ASU
football party in the area of 35th Ave. and West Rose Garden.
They all left the
party at approximately 22'30 hours en route to a Taco Bell Restaurant in the area
in a Nissan Truck owned by victim David Nguyen.
At approximately 22'42 hours Phoenix General Hospital located at 19829 N. 27th
Ave., contacted he Phoenix Police Department in regards to multiple gun shot
victims.
Upon police arrival at the hospital victim Jonathan Bria was air
evacuated to the Good Samaritan Hospital with a gun shot wound to the left chest
area and was not expected to live. Victim David Glover had a gun shot wound to
the right thigh leg area and victim Steve Thorstensen had a gun shot grazing
wound to he right side of the head.
During the investigation it was determined that Jonathan Bria, David Glover,
Steve Thorstensen, Wesley Ray, David Nguyen, David Rehana and Michael Bowling
were involved in what appeared to be a drive by shooting which occurred in the
area of the 2700 block of West Deer Valley Road and continued to the 2700 Block
of West Rose Garden Lane in Phoenix.
Once the driver, David Nguyen, was advised
the passengers in the back of the truck were shot he immediately drove to the
Phoenix General Hospital for help.
At the onset of the investigation the suspect(s) and vehicle(s) were unknown
as witnesses stated it happened too fast. During the continuum of the
investigation is was learned that the suspect was a Hispanic male by the name of
"Dopey" who was later identified as Tony Aguilar and the vehicle was a 1979
Chevrolet El Camino.
Victim Jonathan Bria died during surgery, an autopsy determined he had died
from a single gun shot wound to the left flank. The bullet struck the aorta, the
stomach, lacerated the liver and struck the bowel and one kidney. Due to the
number of organs and items involved Jonathan Bria bled to death, internally. The
coroner ruled the case a homicide.
Victim David Glover had surgery to remove the bullet from his right thigh/leg
area and will recover from his wound. Victim Steve Thorstensen was treated and
released from a grazing wound to the right side of his head.
On July 23, 1997 the Phoenix Police Department was contacted by the El Paso
Police Department, El Paso, Texas that they had suspect, Tony Aguilar, in
custody.
Tony Aguilar was taken into custody by officers of the U.S. Customs Service
at the Port of Entry in EI Paso after discovering outstanding warrants for
Homicide, Parole Absconder and Fraud.
After being interviewed by the Phoenix Police Department Tony (Tonatihu)
Aguilar was extradited back to Phoenix, AZ on charges of homicide and 6 counts
of assault with a deadly weapon.
Inmate Aguilar is also convicted of the following:
Maricopa County CR 2002-006143
