Joe Rivera, 36, a Hispanic/Latino male from Imperial Beach, California, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of September 6, 2025, outside the Bullpen Tavern on the 600 block of Seventh Street. Deputies responding to a disturbance at about 1:25 a.m. found him suffering from traumatic injuries; despite CPR and lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surveillance audio from a nearby home captured a single gunshot just before 1:30 a.m., aligning with the moment that left Joe Rivera, 36, lifeless outside the bar. He had reportedly ridden his skateboard to meet his brother for a drink that night. A memorial soon grew near the tavern, as family and friends remembered Joe Rivera, 36, as a devoted father and hardworking plumber.
In the initial hours, authorities withheld the victim’s name while homicide detectives interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence, saying the incident appeared isolated and posed no broader danger to the community. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office detailed the timeline and location and asked the public for tips, reinforcing that the motivation and circumstances were still under investigation in those first updates. Local outlets echoed the basic facts: an early-morning fight or disturbance outside a neighborhood bar, the swift arrival of deputies, and the confirmation of a homicide investigation centered on the stretch of Seventh Street.
Within days, deputies confirmed an arrest. Vince Quintero was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of murder and grand theft of a firearm. In a subsequent court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Family members of Joe Rivera, 36, including his sister Virginia Coughlin, described him as an “amazing human being” and a peacemaker, while a fundraiser was launched to support his four children as they grappled with the loss. Authorities have not publicly disclosed what led to the shooting, and investigators continue to seek clarity on the events that culminated in the death of Joe Rivera, 36, outside the Bullpen Tavern.
