A heartbroken Southern California family is searching for answers after their beloved daughter and sister was gunned down inside a Pomona apartment complex, only learning of her death while watching live television coverage of the police pursuit that followed.
Veronica Lopez, 24, was shot and killed Thursday afternoon in what authorities say was a double homicide allegedly carried out by her boyfriend before he fled the scene, triggering a multi-agency freeway chase that ended with his arrest.
Background
Lopez lived in San Diego and had been dating suspect Robert Galtman for approximately two years, according to family members who say they repeatedly expressed concerns about the relationship. Relatives described Lopez as a bright, talented young woman whose future was stolen in an instant.
"She was our fifth daughter. Very beautiful, very young, very talented," her father Coby Lopez told CBS. "She used to be a pro skater, had so much positives going in her life."
Family members remembered Lopez as someone whose smile could light up a room and who made everyone around her feel loved and valued.
The Investigation
Officers responded just before 3:30 p.m. to reports of gunfire near Monterey and Garey Avenues in Pomona. When they arrived, they found a man and a woman dead from gunshot wounds inside an apartment complex. Authorities have not publicly identified the second victim.
After the shooting, investigators say Galtman fled the scene in a black Kia sedan, prompting a countywide manhunt. Authorities tracked the vehicle using an automatic license plate reader that detected it on the northbound 5 Freeway in Sylmar.
The pursuit stretched for roughly 90 minutes before officers used a PIT maneuver to bring the chase to an end. Galtman was taken into custody and is being held on $3.1 million bail.
Galtman is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Pomona Superior Court on charges related to the double homicide.
Key Takeaways
- Veronica Lopez, 24, was allegedly shot and killed by her boyfriend Robert Galtman inside a Pomona apartment complex Thursday afternoon
- The family learned she was the victim while watching live television coverage of the police chase unfolding on screen
- Investigators tracked Galtman's vehicle using an automatic license plate reader before officers performed a PIT maneuver to end the pursuit
- A second victim was found dead at the scene; authorities have not publicly identified that individual
- Galtman is being held on $3.1 million bail and is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in Pomona
What's Next
Galtman's arraignment is set for Tuesday in Pomona Superior Court, where prosecutors are expected to formally present charges. Investigators continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding both deaths. The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and honor Lopez's memory.
In a tribute shared after her death, relatives summed up their grief in six heartbreaking words: "Forever 24. Forever loved. Forever missed."