Jason Eugene Bush
Home Invasion Murders
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Arivaca, Arizona, U.S.
TIME PERIOD
May 30, 2009
VICTIMS
2 confirmed
On May 30, 2009, at approximately 5 a.m., Raul Flores Jr., 29, and his nine-year-old daughter, Brisenia Ylianna Flores, were murdered during a home invasion in Arivaca, Arizona. The assailants, Shawna Forde, Jason Eugene Bush, and Albert Gaxiola, members of the vigilante group Minutemen American Defense, entered the home under the pretense of being law enforcement searching for fugitives. After failing to find drugs, they shot both victims and fled, while Gina Gonzalez, the wife and mother, was wounded but survived by pretending to be dead and later engaging in a gunfight with the intruders. In 2011, all three suspects were convicted of murder; Forde and Bush received death sentences, while Gaxiola was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Significant evidence included Gonzalez's identification of the attackers and the treatment of Bush's gunshot wound by a fellow group member, which corroborated the timeline of events.
Shawna Forde and her accomplices targeted the Flores family under the belief they would find drugs and money to fund their vigilante activities. Some speculate that the attack was part of a broader pattern of violence associated with nativist groups in the region, reflecting a growing climate of fear and hostility towards immigrants. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that the attack was premeditated, with Forde specifically seeking to bolster her group's notoriety through high-profile crimes.
The Murders of Raul and Brisenia Flores
A Deadly Night in Arivaca
In the early morning hours of May 30, 2009, the tranquility of Arivaca, Arizona was shattered by a brutal home invasion that left two members of the Flores family dead. Raul Flores Jr., 29, and his nine-year-old daughter Brisenia Ylianna Flores were murdered in cold blood. The attack was orchestrated by Shawna Forde, a leader of the vigilante group Minutemen American Defense (MAD), along with her accomplices Jason Eugene Bush and Albert Gaxiola. Gina Gonzalez, Raul's wife and Brisenia's mother, survived the harrowing ordeal, despite being shot three times. Her courageous response, which included returning fire and wounding Bush, was crucial in the aftermath of the attack.
The Attack
At approximately 5 a.m., under the guise of law enforcement officials searching for fugitives, Shawna Forde and her cohorts entered the Flores home. Their mission was sinister: to find money and drugs to fund MAD's operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. When they found no drugs, they resorted to stealing inexpensive jewelry. But the robbery took a horrifying turn when they fatally shot Raul and Brisenia. The young girl, a third-grade student at Sopori Elementary School in Amado, Arizona, was shot point-blank as she pleaded for her life.
Gina Gonzalez, though severely wounded, managed to call 911. During the call, a terrified Gonzalez reported, "They shot me and I pretended like I was dead. My daughter was crying. They shot her, too." Her voice, filled with urgency, alerted the operator as the assailants re-entered her home. In the ensuing chaos, Gonzalez exchanged gunfire with the attackers, managing to wound Bush before they fled.
The Investigation
Gina Gonzalez provided a critical eyewitness account, identifying two men and a white woman as her attackers. She confirmed that Bush murdered her husband and daughter. Chuck Stonex, a fellow MAD member, unwittingly aided the investigation when he treated Bush's leg injury the day after the murders. His testimony would later prove significant during the trial.
The Trial and Convictions
In 2011, justice was served. Shawna Forde, Jason Eugene Bush, and Albert Gaxiola were brought to trial and convicted of the murders. Forde and Bush received the death penalty, while Gaxiola was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, plus 54 years.
The jury's decision to sentence Forde to death was not taken lightly. Juror Angie Thomas recalled the haunting image of Brisenia during the trial: a little girl in turquoise pajama bottoms, with bright red fingernails, lying on a love seat—an innocent picture marred by violence. Gonzalez's testimony, describing her daughter's last moments, left an indelible impact on the courtroom.
Jason Eugene Bush
Jason Eugene "Gunny" Bush, born in LaGrande, Oregon, had a dark and violent history. As MAD's National Director of Operations, Bush brought with him a past linked to Aryan Nations, a white supremacist group. His criminal record included a 1997 execution-style murder and other felonies. Detectives suspected him of additional killings and, in June 2009, DNA evidence connected him to the 1997 murder of Hector Lopez Partida in Washington. In April 2011, Bush was sentenced to death, followed by an additional 78-year sentence for other crimes. His appeal for the death sentence was denied in 2018.
Shawna Forde
Shawna Forde's life was marked by a series of criminal activities and personal turmoil. Born on December 6, 1967, she claimed a varied career history, including a failed city council run in Everett, Washington. Her criminal record spanned theft, burglary, and more. Forde's involvement with vigilante activities began in earnest in 2007 with the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, from which she was later expelled. She then founded MAD, claiming grandiose membership numbers that dwindled following her arrest.
Forde's prosecution revealed chilling details of her involvement in the Flores murders. Despite her lawyer’s defense that she was not present during the killings, evidence and testimonies confirmed otherwise. Pima County Deputy County Attorney Rick Unklesbay emphasized her role in orchestrating the crime, stating, "She didn't put a gun to Brisenia's head... but she was the one in charge." On February 22, 2011, a Tucson jury sentenced Forde to death, making her one of only three women on Arizona's death row.
Albert Gaxiola
Albert Robert Gaxiola, an Arivaca local, was instrumental in providing intelligence on local drug activities to MAD. Born on February 9, 1967, Gaxiola's history included a prison stint for marijuana charges. His conviction for the Flores murders resulted in a life sentence without parole, plus additional years for related crimes.
Media Portrayal
The tragic case of the Flores murders was featured on the Investigation Discovery program "Deadly Women," focusing on Forde's role in the crime. The episode, aptly titled "Death Knock," highlighted the brutal reality of the events that unfolded in Arivaca.
Sources
For further reading, the original Wikipedia article on Jason Eugene Bush can be found here.
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Murders of Raul and Brisenia Flores
Raul Flores Jr. and his daughter Brisenia are murdered during a home invasion by Shawna Forde and accomplices.
Arrests Made
Shawna Forde, Jason Bush, and Albert Gaxiola are arrested in connection with the murders.
Forde Convicted
Shawna Forde is found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges related to the home invasion.
Death Sentences Issued
Shawna Forde and Jason Bush are sentenced to death for their roles in the murders.
Gaxiola Sentenced
Albert Gaxiola is sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 54 years.
Bush's Appeal Denied
Jason Bush's appeal against his death sentence is rejected.
On May 30, 2009, at approximately 5 a.m., Raul Flores Jr., 29, and his nine-year-old daughter, Brisenia Ylianna Flores, were murdered during a home invasion in Arivaca, Arizona. The assailants, Shawna Forde, Jason Eugene Bush, and Albert Gaxiola, members of the vigilante group Minutemen American Defense, entered the home under the pretense of being law enforcement searching for fugitives. After failing to find drugs, they shot both victims and fled, while Gina Gonzalez, the wife and mother, was wounded but survived by pretending to be dead and later engaging in a gunfight with the intruders. In 2011, all three suspects were convicted of murder; Forde and Bush received death sentences, while Gaxiola was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Significant evidence included Gonzalez's identification of the attackers and the treatment of Bush's gunshot wound by a fellow group member, which corroborated the timeline of events.
Shawna Forde and her accomplices targeted the Flores family under the belief they would find drugs and money to fund their vigilante activities. Some speculate that the attack was part of a broader pattern of violence associated with nativist groups in the region, reflecting a growing climate of fear and hostility towards immigrants. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that the attack was premeditated, with Forde specifically seeking to bolster her group's notoriety through high-profile crimes.
The Murders of Raul and Brisenia Flores
A Deadly Night in Arivaca
In the early morning hours of May 30, 2009, the tranquility of Arivaca, Arizona was shattered by a brutal home invasion that left two members of the Flores family dead. Raul Flores Jr., 29, and his nine-year-old daughter Brisenia Ylianna Flores were murdered in cold blood. The attack was orchestrated by Shawna Forde, a leader of the vigilante group Minutemen American Defense (MAD), along with her accomplices Jason Eugene Bush and Albert Gaxiola. Gina Gonzalez, Raul's wife and Brisenia's mother, survived the harrowing ordeal, despite being shot three times. Her courageous response, which included returning fire and wounding Bush, was crucial in the aftermath of the attack.
The Attack
At approximately 5 a.m., under the guise of law enforcement officials searching for fugitives, Shawna Forde and her cohorts entered the Flores home. Their mission was sinister: to find money and drugs to fund MAD's operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. When they found no drugs, they resorted to stealing inexpensive jewelry. But the robbery took a horrifying turn when they fatally shot Raul and Brisenia. The young girl, a third-grade student at Sopori Elementary School in Amado, Arizona, was shot point-blank as she pleaded for her life.
Gina Gonzalez, though severely wounded, managed to call 911. During the call, a terrified Gonzalez reported, "They shot me and I pretended like I was dead. My daughter was crying. They shot her, too." Her voice, filled with urgency, alerted the operator as the assailants re-entered her home. In the ensuing chaos, Gonzalez exchanged gunfire with the attackers, managing to wound Bush before they fled.
The Investigation
Gina Gonzalez provided a critical eyewitness account, identifying two men and a white woman as her attackers. She confirmed that Bush murdered her husband and daughter. Chuck Stonex, a fellow MAD member, unwittingly aided the investigation when he treated Bush's leg injury the day after the murders. His testimony would later prove significant during the trial.
The Trial and Convictions
In 2011, justice was served. Shawna Forde, Jason Eugene Bush, and Albert Gaxiola were brought to trial and convicted of the murders. Forde and Bush received the death penalty, while Gaxiola was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, plus 54 years.
The jury's decision to sentence Forde to death was not taken lightly. Juror Angie Thomas recalled the haunting image of Brisenia during the trial: a little girl in turquoise pajama bottoms, with bright red fingernails, lying on a love seat—an innocent picture marred by violence. Gonzalez's testimony, describing her daughter's last moments, left an indelible impact on the courtroom.
Jason Eugene Bush
Jason Eugene "Gunny" Bush, born in LaGrande, Oregon, had a dark and violent history. As MAD's National Director of Operations, Bush brought with him a past linked to Aryan Nations, a white supremacist group. His criminal record included a 1997 execution-style murder and other felonies. Detectives suspected him of additional killings and, in June 2009, DNA evidence connected him to the 1997 murder of Hector Lopez Partida in Washington. In April 2011, Bush was sentenced to death, followed by an additional 78-year sentence for other crimes. His appeal for the death sentence was denied in 2018.
Shawna Forde
Shawna Forde's life was marked by a series of criminal activities and personal turmoil. Born on December 6, 1967, she claimed a varied career history, including a failed city council run in Everett, Washington. Her criminal record spanned theft, burglary, and more. Forde's involvement with vigilante activities began in earnest in 2007 with the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, from which she was later expelled. She then founded MAD, claiming grandiose membership numbers that dwindled following her arrest.
Forde's prosecution revealed chilling details of her involvement in the Flores murders. Despite her lawyer’s defense that she was not present during the killings, evidence and testimonies confirmed otherwise. Pima County Deputy County Attorney Rick Unklesbay emphasized her role in orchestrating the crime, stating, "She didn't put a gun to Brisenia's head... but she was the one in charge." On February 22, 2011, a Tucson jury sentenced Forde to death, making her one of only three women on Arizona's death row.
Albert Gaxiola
Albert Robert Gaxiola, an Arivaca local, was instrumental in providing intelligence on local drug activities to MAD. Born on February 9, 1967, Gaxiola's history included a prison stint for marijuana charges. His conviction for the Flores murders resulted in a life sentence without parole, plus additional years for related crimes.
Media Portrayal
The tragic case of the Flores murders was featured on the Investigation Discovery program "Deadly Women," focusing on Forde's role in the crime. The episode, aptly titled "Death Knock," highlighted the brutal reality of the events that unfolded in Arivaca.
Sources
For further reading, the original Wikipedia article on Jason Eugene Bush can be found here.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Murders of Raul and Brisenia Flores
Raul Flores Jr. and his daughter Brisenia are murdered during a home invasion by Shawna Forde and accomplices.
Arrests Made
Shawna Forde, Jason Bush, and Albert Gaxiola are arrested in connection with the murders.
Forde Convicted
Shawna Forde is found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges related to the home invasion.
Death Sentences Issued
Shawna Forde and Jason Bush are sentenced to death for their roles in the murders.
Gaxiola Sentenced
Albert Gaxiola is sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 54 years.
Bush's Appeal Denied
Jason Bush's appeal against his death sentence is rejected.