On May 29, 2020, a surveillance image provided by the FBI captured a van with its passenger side door ajar while an individual fired at a security kiosk outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, California. Robert Alvin Justus Jr. has been formally charged with aiding and abetting the murder and attempted murder of two Federal Protective Services security officers during this incident, as announced by federal authorities on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. Justus is alleged to have driven the van from which U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Carrillo reportedly shot and killed federal officer Dave Patrick Underwood, 53, and injured another officer on that fateful day.
In Oakland, a Millbrae resident, Robert Allen Justus, was sentenced to life in federal prison on Friday for his role as the driver of the van involved in the shooting that claimed the life of one court officer and injured another. This sentencing effectively ensures that Justus will spend the remainder of his life behind bars unless a successful appeal is made. His conviction on charges of murder and attempted murder came after a trial where his defense team sought to shift blame to his co-defendant, Steven Carrillo, a U.S. Air Force sergeant stationed at Travis Air Force Base during the incident.
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers delivered the sentence at the Oakland building where Carrillo fatally shot FPS Officer David Patrick Underwood of Pinole on May 29, 2020. Both Justus and Carrillo were associated with the self-styled Boogaloo movement, an anti-government group anticipating a second U.S. Civil War. Their meeting on Facebook culminated in a violent act at an Oakland security booth, where Underwood lost his life and his partner, Sombat Mifovic, sustained four gunshot wounds.
During the trial, Mifovic emotionally addressed the court on Friday, recounting his numerous surgeries, ongoing physical therapy, and the enduring pain he experiences as a result of the attack. The scars and physical agony serve as constant reminders of that tragic day, impacting not only him but also his loved ones.
Following the shooting in Oakland, Carrillo engaged in further violence, ambushing Santa Cruz County deputies and California Highway Patrol officers near his Ben Lomond residence, resulting in the death of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and injuries to three others. Subsequently, Justus voluntarily confessed to his involvement at the FBI building in San Francisco, alleging that Carrillo had coerced and threatened him into participating. Despite expressing remorse in court and extending apologies, Justus maintained his belief in the truthfulness of his claims against Carrillo.
In response to Justus’ statements, Underwood’s sister condemned him as “a coward” whose actions led to her brother’s tragic death. Justus, while expressing profound regret, acknowledged the irreversible consequences of his choices and the profound loss experienced by the victims’ families. However, he questioned the perceived injustice in his sentencing compared to the possibility of Carrillo’s eventual release.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers bluntly dismissed Justus’ assertions, citing observations during his trial testimony that indicated deception. She emphasized Justus’ significant role in the fatal shooting and its aftermath, attributing the tragedy to his actions and affiliations with extremist ideologies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee refuted the portrayal of Justus as an unwilling participant, highlighting his history of online violent rhetoric against law enforcement and active involvement in the planning and execution of the attack with Carrillo. The duo’s collaboration, driven by far-right and anti-government extremism, aimed to sow societal discord and incite upheaval.
In closing, Mifovic paid tribute to Underwood’s compassionate nature and the friendship they were deprived of due to the senseless violence. He lamented the loss of a remarkable individual and expressed deep sorrow over the void left by his absence.