Ricardo "Ricky" Galvez, a 29-year-old police officer from Downey, California, was tragically killed on November 18, 2015. Officer Galvez was ambushed and shot while sitting in his personal vehicle in the parking lot of the Downey Police Department. He was preparing to go off duty when he was approached by three suspects who opened fire on him. The incident occurred around 11:00 PM, and another officer nearby heard the shots and responded immediately, but unfortunately, Galvez succumbed to his
injuries at the scene.
The investigation into Galvez's death revealed that the shooting was part of a botched robbery attempt. The suspects, who were later identified and arrested, did not initially realize that Galvez was a police officer or that they were near a police station. The suspects included Steven Knott, Jeremy Anthony Alvarez, and Abel Diaz. Knott and Alvarez were both from Montebello, California, and had a history of criminal activity, including attempted murder, robbery, and gang-related offenses.
In the legal proceedings that followed, Steven Knott pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and attempted robbery with the personal use of a firearm. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison. Jeremy Anthony Alvarez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted robbery and received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison. Abel Diaz, who was 16 years old at the time of the shooting, was also charged in connection with the murder. In a deal with prosecutors, Diaz admitted to his role in the killing in juvenile court and was set to be released from detention by age 25.
The case was prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, with Deputy District Attorneys Michael Blake and Mary Murray leading the prosecution. The defendants also admitted to other crimes, including an attempted murder in Montebello, a takeover robbery at a Bellflower cell phone store, and a street robbery in Paramount shortly before Galvez's murder. These crimes were committed in association with a criminal street gang, and the defendants faced multiple firearms enhancements and allegations.
Officer Galvez was remembered as a dedicated and compassionate officer who had served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine before joining the Downey Police Department. His death was a significant loss to the community and the police department, and his funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners, including family, friends, and fellow officers. The Downey Police Chief and the mayor spoke at his funeral, highlighting his positive impact on those around him and his commitment to serving and protecting the community.
