A 48-year-old Latino man, Richard Brady, was tragically killed on June 18, 2026, in what police have described as a senseless act of violence. The incident unfolded in a hallway of the Monterey Station Apartments in Pomona, California, where Brady was attempting to aid a neighbor, 24-year-old Veronica Lopez, who was reportedly trying to end an abusive relationship. Both Brady and Lopez were found with multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The father of a 14-year-old son, Brady was remembered by the mother of his child as someone who was always there to help others, a sentiment echoed by those who knew him.
The suspect in the double homicide was quickly identified as 48-year-old Robert Galtman, Lopez's boyfriend. Following the shooting, Galtman fled the scene in a black Kia sedan, leading to a dramatic and dangerous high-speed chase that spanned multiple counties. The pursuit, which reached speeds that caused the car's tires to shred, was broadcast live on television. It was through this news coverage that Lopez's family tragically learned of her death after recognizing her car and dog. The chase finally came to an end in Lancaster, nearly 100 miles from the scene of the crime, when the California Highway Patrol successfully deployed a spike strip and executed a PIT maneuver to disable the vehicle. Galtman was then taken into custody without further incident.
In the days following the tragic events, Robert Galtman was charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Richard Brady and Veronica Lopez, as well as one count of evading police. The murder charges came with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, which could make him eligible for the death penalty. During his initial court appearances in late June 2026, Galtman's bail, which had been set at $3.1 million, was revoked, and his arraignment was postponed. The case highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence, with Lopez's family revealing that she had been in an abusive relationship with Galtman and was attempting to leave him. Richard Brady, a good Samaritan and concerned neighbor, lost his life while courageously trying to intervene and help a young woman in her time of need. As of the latest available information, the case against Robert Galtman was proceeding through the legal system.
