Renowned astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, who helped discover water on a distant planet, was fatally shot on the front porch of his home in Llano, northern Los Angeles County. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene after law enforcement responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon.
A 29-year-old man, Freddy Snyder, was arrested in connection with the shooting, as well as a nearby carjacking and burglary. He is currently in custody on a $2 million bail, though authorities have not disclosed a motive or whether the suspect knew Grillmair personally.
Grillmair, 67, spent over 40 years advancing astrophysics at California Institute of Technology and worked with the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, collaborating with NASA. Colleagues described his work as “ingenious,” highlighting that his discovery of water on distant planets indicated conditions favorable for life.
Friends and fellow scientists mourned the loss, noting Grillmair’s immense contributions to astronomy and space research. Caltech confirmed his death in a statement, calling him a “very renowned scientist” whose work inspired generations of researchers worldwide.
