Reward Is Offered in Fontana ATM Death

Jose Galvez, a hard-working family man who looked forward to days off with his children, was supposed to be back at work at two jobs this week after a big Labor Day family barbecue. Instead, grieving relatives were finalizing his funeral plans and setting up a reward for the capture of his killer.

“He was a wonderful father,” his widow, Judith, said Tuesday. “The person who did this didn’t just hurt one person, they hurt a whole family.”

The 40-year-old Fontana man was gunned down at an ATM early Saturday after he withdrew cash for a holiday weekend camping trip in Baja. As he lay dying on the pavement, the assailant fled in Galvez’s SUV.

A composite sketch of a possible suspect was released Tuesday by Fontana police. He is described as an 18- to 25-year-old white or Hispanic male, about 5 foot 8 and 180 pounds. He is considered to be armed and dangerous, authorities said.

The vehicle -- a maroon 2003 GMC Yukon with California license plate 5AAF180 -- is missing. Police said the vehicle’s custom rims might have attracted whoever killed him. Judith Galvez said the family had not ordered the special rims when they bought the vehicle about 10 months ago; the dealer had sold it to them that way.

An all-points bulletin was issued in California and parts of Mexico. Fontana police are also asking other law-enforcement agencies if they have experienced similar crimes.

Galvez’s extended family is offering a $2,000 reward for the arrest of the man they lovingly knew as “Uncle Joe.”

Galvez was a construction worker and landscaper in Monrovia, and eagerly anticipated every day off with his son, Joseph, 13, and daughter, Vanessa, 17, said his widow. Also in regular attendance at family gatherings were his father, eight siblings, and numerous nephews and nieces. His specialties were carne asada and dishes on the barbecue. He insisted on feeding everyone else first, relatives said.

“He was the king of the barbecue, and the king of the smiles. He never had a frown on his face,” said younger sister Carmen Barajas.

“Every time we had a sorrow, we just looked at him. He just carried on his life with a smile,” she said.

Barajas said she was sure her brother would have given up his cash and his car if his killer had asked.

Judith Galvez said the family had been packing new tents, sleeping bags and other equipment for a trip to Rosarita, Mexico, at 4 a.m. Saturday, when her husband told her he was going to make a quick trip to an ATM. She didn’t even get to kiss him goodbye, she said.

After half an hour had elapsed, her son and a nephew grew concerned and drove around the neighborhood looking for him. They noticed police at the Bank of America ATM on Cherry Street. When they pulled up, the son saw his father’s wallet on the street.

“He’s a regular guy who was just working to support his family,” said Fontana police spokeswoman Dawn Rowe. “This is an awful, awful case.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (909) 350-7700 or (909) 350-7779.