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Tonatihu AGUILAR

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 


A.K.A.: "Tony" - "Dopey"
 
Classification: Homicide
Characteristics: Juvenile (16)
Number of victims: 3
Date of murders: September 21/October 15, 1996
Date of arrest: July 23, 1997
Date of birth: February 11, 1980
Victims profile: Jonathan Bria / Hector Imperial, 28, and his wife, Sandra, 29
Method of murder: Shooting
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Status: Sentenced to death June 19, 2003
 
 
 
 
 

The Court of Appeals State of Arizona

 
opinion CR02-0079
 
 
 
 
 
 

ADC#164186

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

Counts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, committed on or about September 21, 1996, sentencing Friday, July 26, 2003 at 9 AM in Division 28 before the Honorable Brian R. Hauser.

 
 

Tonatihu Aguilar

On Oct. 15, 1996, Aguilar murdered Hector Imperial, 28, and his wife, Sandra, 29, in front of their 5-year-old son at the couple's home in the 1600 block of North 52nd Drive in Phoenix. Aguilar shot Hector to death and shot Sandra, who died of her wounds the next day. Police said the murders were part of a "longstanding feud."

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. He was extradited back to Phoenix. On January 4, 2002, Aguilar was sentenced to natural life plus 35 years for the double murder.

When in custody of Phoenix police, Aguilar may have confessed to being involved in the drive-by shooting.

Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley said the murders never should have happened. Aguilar, who was sent to a juvenile-detention center on April 25, 1995, for assaulting a police officer, was supposed to remain in custody until he turned 18. Instead, he was released after eight days.

Claims of a police foul-up led to a settlement for the family of the victims of the teen murderer. The families also argued that Aguilar should have been locked up in a juvenile detention center instead of on the streets. The city contributed $1 million to the settlement.

 

 

 
 
 
 
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