Beaumont Banquet Murder Trial Begins: Jury Sworn, Opening Statements

BEAUMONT, CA — A jury was seated Monday for the trial of a 33-year- old convicted felon accused of fatally shooting his aunt and seriously wounding an acquaintance during a dispute at a family banquet in Riverside.

Abraham David Bonilla allegedly 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.

Bonilla is charged with 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.

Jury selection began Wednesday in the courtroom of Riverside County Superior Court Judge Sam Shouka at the Riverside Hall of Justice. A panel was assembled and sworn in Monday, with opening statements by the prosecution and defense expected late Monday morning.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

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

Investigators said Bonilla was among the attendees, and for several hours, nothing was out of order. But toward the end of the affair, for reasons unclear, an argument erupted between the defendant and several others, at which point he allegedly brandished a .380 semiautomatic handgun at several partygoers, then opened fire, according to Sgt. Mike Crawford.

Romo and Tommy were struck, though investigators said it was not known whether the alleged shooter intended to target his aunt.

Bonilla fled the location after the attack, Crawford alleged.

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, officers learned that a man matching the alleged shooter's description had been involved in a wreck in the area of Fremont Street and Jurupa Avenue and was receiving treatment from paramedics. Patrolmen went to the location and arrested Bonilla without a struggle, according to Crawford.

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

Court records show Bonilla has prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and gang activity.