On the afternoon of June 18, 2026, Veronica Lopez, a 24-year-old Hispanic woman, was found shot to death in the hallway of an apartment building in Pomona, California. A former professional skateboarder and an avid San Francisco 49ers fan, her life was cut short in what her family has described as a final, tragic act of domestic violence. Lopez, who resided in San Diego, was visiting the Pomona apartment of her boyfriend of two years, 48-year-old Robert Galtman.
Found alongside her was the body of another resident of the building, 48-year-old Richard Brady, who was also fatally shot. Family members of both victims believe Brady was attempting to help Lopez during a dispute with Galtman when they were both killed.
Shortly after the bodies were discovered around 3:30 p.m., the Pomona Police Department identified Galtman as the suspect. He had fled the scene, prompting a massive law enforcement response. A few hours later, California Highway Patrol officers, using a license plate reader, located Galtman's black Kia sedan on the freeway more than 70 miles away. This initiated a dangerous, high-speed chase that spanned multiple counties and lasted for about an hour and a half. During the pursuit, Galtman was seen throwing objects, later believed to be a dismantled gun, from his vehicle. The chase finally concluded in Lancaster when CHP officers successfully used a spike strip and a PIT maneuver to disable his car, leading to his surrender and arrest. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Veronica's family learned of her death only after seeing the televised chase and recognizing her car and her dog, which was rescued from the vehicle after Galtman's capture.
In the wake of the tragedy, Veronica's family spoke out, revealing that she had been in an abusive relationship with Galtman, and they had repeatedly urged her to leave him. Her mother, Sheila Lopez, expressed immense grief and issued a warning to others in similar situations to get out of abusive relationships. Galtman was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held in custody on $3.1 million bail. The case, which tragically ended the lives of a vibrant young woman with a promising future and a neighbor who died trying to help, now moves to the courts. The investigation highlights a devastating outcome of domestic violence, leaving two families to mourn and seek justice for their loved ones.
