Genius Astrophysicist Shot Dead on His Porch in Southern California Caltech astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was shot and killed at his home in Llano on February 16th. Freddy Snyder, 29, has been charged with Grillmair’s murder and is being held on $2 million bail. Following the shooting, Snyder allegedly attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle.

• Caltech astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was shot dead at his home.
• Freddy Snyder, 29, has been charged with Grillmair’s murder.
• Snyder is being held on $2 million bail.
• After the shooting, Snyder allegedly attempted to carjack a vehicle.
• Grillmair specialized in galactic astronomy, dark matter, stellar streams, galactic structure, and exoplanets.
• His research interests included dark matter, galactic structure, stellar populations, and exoplanets.
• At the time of his death, Grillmair was researching comets and asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.