Man Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Shooting of Caltech Scientist in Llano

A Llano man has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a Caltech astrophysicist on the front porch of the victim's home in February. Freddy Snyder, 30, appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, May 26, where he denied charges of murder, carjacking, and burglary, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

He also denied a special allegation of using a rifle in the crimes.

Snyder is accused of killing 67-year-old Carl Grillmair, a renowned astrophysicist at Caltech's Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC). The shooting occurred on February 16 at Grillmair's home in the 30700 block of 165th Street in Llano.

According to prosecutors, Snyder had carjacked his own mother at gunpoint hours earlier, taking two rifles and her car keys after firing a shot into the ceiling when she refused to comply.

Grillmair was shot once in the neck after going outside to investigate a vehicle in his driveway. Snyder was identified as a person of interest and taken into custody about five hours later.

The burglary charge stems from a December incident in which Snyder allegedly trespassed at Grillmair's home while carrying a rifle.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated, "Carl Grillmair was a dedicated Caltech scientist who was ruthlessly shot and killed outside his own home. This senseless act of violence has devastated his family and cut short a life devoted to advancing science." If convicted on all charges, Snyder faces life in prison.

His bail is set at $3 million, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 5 in the Antelope Valley branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court.