RIP Carl Grillmair, Caltech Astrophysicist (67)

[Astronuc]

Carl Grillmair, 67, who is revered in the astronomy field for discovering water on a distant planet, was shot and killed Monday morning at his home in Llano, a community in the Antelope Valley.

Deputies found Grillmair on the front porch suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the LA County Sheriff's Department, while deputies were responding to the shooting call, a call also came in about a carjacking in the same area.

The shooting suspect, Freddy Snyder (29), was arrested. He was charged Wednesday with murder and carjacking in connection with the killing, along with an allegation of personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury.

Ref: https://www.foxla.com/news/caltech-scientist-carl-grillmair-suspect-freddy-snyder-charged
It's unclear if Grillmair and Snyder had any connection prior to the killing.

https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/science/staff/carl-grillmair
Publications - https://web.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/carl/cgpub.html

Among Grillmair’s accomplishments was the ‘ingenious discovery’ of water on a planet outside our solar system.

https://www.latimes.com/california/...cist-fatally-shot-on-porch-in-antelope-valley

 

[berkeman]

Yikes, what a loss.