The Pomona community is mourning the tragic loss of Veronica Lopez, a 24-year-old woman who was fatally shot alongside Richard Brady in an apparent domestic violence incident at an apartment complex on Thursday afternoon.
According to the Pomona Police Department, officers responded shortly before 3:30 p.m. to reports of gunfire at an apartment building in the 100 block of East Monterey Avenue near Garey Avenue. When officers arrived, they found Lopez and Brady suffering from gunshot wounds in a hallway of the complex. Despite emergency response efforts, both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members identified the victims as Veronica Lopez of San Diego and Richard Brady. Relatives said Lopez had been in a relationship for approximately two years with the suspected gunman, identified by authorities as 48-year-old Robert Galtman of Pomona.
Investigators allege that Galtman fled the scene in a black Kia sedan immediately after the shooting, sparking a lengthy pursuit involving the California Highway Patrol. The chase stretched across several Southern California communities, including Pomona, the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley, and into the Antelope Valley.
Authorities eventually brought the pursuit to an end after deploying spike strips and performing a PIT maneuver, which disabled the suspect’s vehicle. Galtman was taken into custody without further incident at approximately 7 p.m.
Jail records indicate that the suspect is being held on $3.1 million bail and is expected to appear in Pomona court for arraignment proceedings. The investigation into the fatal shooting remains active.
As news of Veronica Lopez’s death spread, family and friends remembered her as a vibrant, compassionate, and energetic young woman whose life was cut tragically short. Loved ones described her as athletic, caring, and someone who brought joy to those around her. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help cover funeral and memorial expenses.
Richard Brady is also being remembered by those who knew him, with his family launching an online fundraiser to support his children as they cope with the devastating loss of their father.
Lopez’s relatives revealed that they had repeatedly encouraged her to leave what they described as an abusive relationship. In the wake of the tragedy, they expressed hope that her death would raise greater awareness about the dangers of domestic violence and encourage victims to seek help before situations escalate.
The heartbreaking deaths of Veronica Lopez and Richard Brady have left their families, friends, and the wider Pomona community grieving an unimaginable loss. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting as loved ones remember two lives taken far too soon.
