‘Boogaloo’ Robert Justus found guilty of murder of federal officer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A person belonging to “Boogaloo” extremist movement He was convicted of murder and attempted murder by a federal jury on Tuesday in the killing of a federal security officer in Northern California during protests against police brutality in 2020.

Robert Alvin Justus Jr., 33, now faces life in prison for murder Federal Protective Service officer David Patrick Underwood, The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California confirmed the verdict.

Underwood was shot on May 29, 2020, as he stood at a guard shack outside a federal building in Oakland as hundreds of people marched against police brutality. murder of george floyd in minneapolis.

steven carrilloThe former US Air Force sergeant pleaded guilty and was sentenced last year to more than Four decades in federal prison For the gunman’s role in the deadly attack. He fired 19 rounds from a homemade AR-15 rifle from the back of a white van driven by Justus, with whom he was connected online. Underwood was fatally shot and a second officer was injured.

Prosecutors said Justus and Carrillo were followers of “Boogaloo” movement, a concept that has been adopted by a loose network of gun enthusiasts and militia-style extremists. Experts say the group believes there is imminent civil war.

An attorney for Justus declined to comment after Tuesday’s ruling. A spokesman for the Federal Security Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Justus testified in his own defense during the trial. He tried to portray himself as an unwilling participant and said that Carrillo had forced him at gunpoint to join the conspiracy. Bay Area News Group, However, prosecutors said Justus had opportunities to escape but could not, leading to his involvement in the plan.

after days Underwood’s murder, Carrillo ambushed sheriff’s deputies in Santa Cruz County who were responding to a report of a van containing firearms and bomb-making materials. County Sheriff Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller38, were killed, and several other law enforcement officers were injured.

Carrillo also pleaded guilty in that case and was sentenced life in state prison without parole,