98-Years-To-Life Sentence For Nephew Who Gunned Down Beaumont Aunt

BEAUMONT, CA — A 42-year-old felon who fatally shot his aunt and seriously wounded an acquaintance during a dispute at a family banquet in Riverside was sentenced Friday to 98 years to life in state prison.

Abraham David Bonilla killed 39-year-old Beatrice Romo of Beaumont and shot her friend, identified in court documents only as "Tommy," at the Elks Lodge on Brockton Avenue in 2018.

A Riverside jury in September deliberated one day before finding Bonilla guilty of murder, attempted murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substances while armed, firearm assault, brandishing a gun and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Sam Shouka imposed the sentence required by law during a hearing Friday at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

The attack happened about 7 p.m. on June 30, 2018, during a leased family event at the lodge.

Riverside police investigators said Bonilla was among the attendees, and for several hours, nothing was out of order. But toward the end of the affair, an argument erupted between the defendant and another celebrant, at which point he brandished a .380 semiautomatic handgun at several partygoers, then opened fire, according to police Sgt. Mike Crawford and prosecutors.

Romo and Tommy were struck, though the defendant did not intend to shoot his aunt when he started firing the compact pistol, according to the prosecution. He fled the location immediately afterward.

Relatives loaded both victims into separate cars and rushed them to Riverside Community Hospital moments before officers converged on the scene.A short time later, patrolmen learned that a man matching the shooter's description had been involved in a wreck in the area of Fremont Street and Jurupa Avenue and was receiving treatment from paramedics. They went to the location and arrested Bonilla without a struggle.

Romo died during surgery less than two hours later. Tommy also underwent an operation for a wound to the upper body, from which he ultimately recovered.

According to court records, Bonilla had prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and gang activity.