2 suspects plead guilty to murder of Ricky Galvez

DOWNEY — Two men pleaded guilty today to the 2015 murder of Downey police officer Ricardo “Ricky” Galvez.

Steven Knott (dob 8/18/97) and Jeremy Anthony Alvarez (dob 8/7/94), both of Montebello, entered guilty pleas Monday, admitting the murder and multiple charges arising from a seven-victim crime spree between September 17 and November 18, 2015 in the cities of South Gate, Montebello, Bellflower, Paramount and Downey.  

Knott pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree murder and attempted robbery with the personal use of a firearm for the killing of Galvez. He faces a term of 50 years to life in state prison as a result of the plea.   

Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree murder and attempted robbery for the murder of Galvez and faces 30 years to life in prison. 

Knott and Alvarez also admitted an attempted murder in Montebello on October 18, 2015, shooting at an inhabited dwelling in South Gate on September 17, 2015, a take-over robbery of two victims at a Bellflower cell phone store and a street robbery in Paramount shortly before the murder of Galvez on Nov. 18, 2015.  

The pair admitted multiple firearms enhancements and allegations that the crimes were committed in association with members of a criminal street gang.

Sentencing is scheduled on April 17 at Los Angeles County Superior Court, Norwalk Branch. 

Galvez, a former U.S. Marine and five-year veteran of the Downey Police Department, was dressed in plain clothes after working with the department's K-9 team when he was fatally shot as he sat in his personal car in the police station parking lot, prosecutors said.