A 29-year-old man indicted for the murder of scientist Carl Grillmair in Antelope Valley had previous felony gun charges dismissed just weeks before the shooting, according to court records.
Freddy Snyder was previously arrested on December 23 with two felony charges: carrying a loaded firearm and attempted evasion. However, Judge Osman Abbasi, appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2025, allowed Snyder to be released on his own recognizance without bail and required him to complete a gun safety course.
Snyder was ordered to return to court on February 5 but failed to appear. Nevertheless, records show that the certificate of completion for the course was accepted, and the case was dismissed under California Penal Code Section 1385 — a provision allowing judges to dismiss charges "in the interest of justice."
Just 11 days later, Snyder was accused of fatally shooting Carl Grillmair, 67, at his home in the remote Antelope Valley area. Police found the victim with severe upper body injuries and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Snyder was subsequently arrested and indicted on charges including murder, carjacking, and burglary. At the hearing on February 18, Judge Abbasi continued to preside over the new case, setting bail at $3.175 million.
The specific reason for the dismissal of the December charges under Section 1385 remains unclear. According to a Los Angeles law firm, the standard for applying this provision is based on "the interest of justice," including the nature of the conduct, the defendant's circumstances, and public interest.
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has not yet issued an official comment on the court's earlier decision.
The incident is sparking debate regarding the use of dismissal powers and risk assessment procedures in cases involving firearms.
