Killing of Carl Grillmair (2026)

On February 16, 2026, Carl Grillmair — a Research Scientist at Caltech IPAC working on NASA WISE, NEO Surveyor, and planetary defense — was shot once in the torso on the front porch of his home in Llano, Antelope Valley, CA (unincorporated LA County) at approximately 6:10 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prior incident: In December 2025, Freddy Snyder (29, Llano) was arrested on Grillmair's property carrying an unregistered/loaded firearm and charged with felony weapons possession. On February 5, 2026 — 11 days before the killing — those charges were dismissed under California Penal Code 1385 ("in the interest of justice") and Snyder was released.

Snyder was arrested the same morning as the murder responding to a simultaneous carjacking call in the area. He was charged with murder, carjacking, and first-degree burglary (bail $3.175M). No confirmed prior relationship between Snyder and Grillmair was established publicly; motive undisclosed.