A suspect wanted in connection with a double homicide in Pomona was apprehended in Kern County on Thursday following a multi-hour pursuit by law enforcement.
The incident began around 3:30 p.m. when the Pomona Police Department responded to a report of shots fired with multiple injured individuals. Authorities confirmed that two people succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
During the response, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) utilized aerial surveillance and a network of license plate readers to locate the suspect's vehicle. The suspect's black Kia sedan was identified approximately two hours later, traveling northbound on the 5 Freeway near Roxford Street.
Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect failed to yield, commencing a pursuit that extended across Los Angeles and Kern Counties and lasted over 90 minutes. The pursuit concluded when CHP officers successfully deployed spike strips, disabling the vehicle's tires, and executed a PIT maneuver to bring the car to a halt.
CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris commended the inter-agency cooperation and the efficiency of the CHP’s crime suppression team, including the use of an aerial unit and the IRIS system, for the swift apprehension. The suspect has been identified as Robert Galtman, 48. He was booked into custody Thursday night and is being held on $3.1 million bail.
