Ramon Galvan Lopez

Ramon Galvan Lopez was a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, a loving father to a three-year-old son, and a man deeply admired by his family. His older brother, Rene Lopez, remembered him as a kind, patient soul who gave love unconditionally and was looked up to by his siblings. After serving in the military for 20 years, Ramon, a 41-year-old Hispanic man from Livingston, California, had recently started a new chapter in his life as an aviation safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. His family could never have imagined the violent end his life would meet.

On the night of October 2, 2023, Ramon and a companion, 42-year-old Evangelina Ybarra, were sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of a gym located at Shaffer Road and Fortuna Avenue in Atwater, California. At around 10:20 p.m., multiple gunshots rang out. A resident who lived across the street described hearing consecutive shots. When Atwater Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Ramon and Evangelina inside the car, both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Atwater Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. Police Chief Michael Salvador stated that the shooting did not appear to be a random act of violence, suggesting the victims and the perpetrator may have known each other. Within days, investigators identified a primary suspect: 42-year-old Daniel Corona Garibay, also a resident of Livingston. An alert was issued to the public asking for help in locating Garibay, who was described as being 6-foot-1 and 198 pounds. He was last seen in the Atwater-Livingston area riding a red and black Honda motorcycle with the license plate number 24E3412. Authorities warned the public not to approach him.

The families of both victims were left distraught and in shock. Loved ones gathered for a candlelight vigil, praying and leaning on one another for support. Ramon's brother, Rene, spoke out, calling for justice. "They need to be brought to justice," he said. "There's no reason why anybody should have to go through what two families are now going through." Addressing the suspect directly through the media, he said, "You will be caught; you can't run forever." A GoFundMe was established to help Ramon's family with unexpected expenses.

The search for the suspect continued for over a year. Then, in late 2024, the Atwater Police Department announced a major development in the case. Daniel Corona Garibay was located and arrested in Yuma, Arizona. He was initially taken into custody on a variety of local narcotics and weapons charges.

Following his arrest in Arizona, the process began to extradite Garibay back to California to face charges in connection with the killings of Ramon Lopez and Evangelina Ybarra. With the support of the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, authorities started the legal proceedings to have him returned to Merced County. As of December 2024, Garibay was awaiting extradition to be formally charged for the double homicide that occurred more than a year earlier.