A 24-year-old with a skateboarding career behind her and a 48-year-old neighbor with two kids—both shot dead in a Pomona apartment hallway on an ordinary Thursday afternoon. What unfolded next was a 90-minute chase that played out live on television, a hunt that ended near Lancaster when officers finally stopped a black Kia sedan and pulled a man out of the driver’s seat.
The shooting happened on June 18 at the Monterey Station Apartments on East Monterey Avenue. Police arrived around 3:20 p.m. to find Veronica Lopez and Richard Brady with fatal gunshot wounds in a fourth-floor corridor. Both died at the scene despite efforts by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel. According to family members and police, Robert Galtman—Lopez’s boyfriend of roughly two years and also a resident of the building—was the suspect. He was 48 years old.
By 5 p.m., CHP officers spotted Galtman on the northbound 5 Freeway in Sylmar and attempted to pull him over. What followed was a desperate dash through mountain roads toward Lancaster. Footage showed him throwing objects from the car, weaving through spike strips until one finally punctured a tire. Officers deployed a PIT maneuver to disable the vehicle. Galtman surrendered around 7:10 p.m. and was officially taken into custody roughly 20 minutes later. A dog was also recovered from the car.
For Lopez’s family, the nightmare became real when they saw the chase on live television. They recognized the vehicle and her dog. They called Pomona police and were brought to the scene. Her mother, Sheila Lopez, told CBS Los Angeles:“She didn’t deserve this. She definitely didn’t deserve this.”She also delivered a hard-earned warning to other young women:“Do not be in an abusive relationship. Get out.”Her father, Coby Lopez, described his fifth daughter as“very beautiful, very young, very talented,”a former professional skater with“so much positive going in her life.”He called Galtman“a coward.”
Brady’s brother, David Brady, told the Daily Bulletin that Richard was a father of two who likely died trying to help Lopez.“My brother stuck up for those who couldn’t stick up for themselves,”he said.“Unfortunately, he walked into a situation out of his control.”Brady’s family set up a fundraiser for his two children, describing him as a“loving father, devoted friend”whose kindness touched many lives. Lopez’s sister, Sabrina Lopez, wrote on a separate GoFundMe: Veronica“had a way of making everyone around her feel loved and valued.”She signed off:“Forever 24. Forever loved. Forever missed.”
Galtman is being held on $3.1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Pomona Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 909-620-2085.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
