Air Force sergeant accused of killing Santa Cruz deputy charged in fatal shooting of federal officer during protest in Oakland

A United States Air Force sergeant arrested in the fatal ambush of a Santa Cruz County deputy earlier this month has also been charged with gunning down a federal security officer amid protests over George Floyd’s death back in May.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Carrillo was charged Tuesday for the drive-by shooting that killed 53-year-old David Patrick Underwood, one of two officers shot outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on May 29. They were guarding the courthouse as protests over the death of 46-year-old Floyd, who died in police custody on Memorial Day, raged on nearby.

Carrillo, who allegedly has ties to the far-right “Boogaloo” movement, was already behind bars on state charges in the killing of Santa Cruz County Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, when the second wave of charges were announced.

Authorities said the 32-year-old suspect and a second man, Robert Justus Jr., drove to Oakland with the intent to kill police, a mission they believed would be made easier by the large demonstrations spurred by Floyd’s death.

Neither men was part of protests, prosecutors noted.

Underwood’s murder sparked a days-long manhunt for Carrillo. Officers turned up at his home on June 6 after they discovered his white van, abandoned and filled with ammunition, firearms and bomb-making equipment, authorities said.

Carrillo then allegedly ambushed the officers, killing Gutzwiller, a Santa Cruz County deputy, and critically injuring another officer. Carrillo also suffered a gunshot wound but was still able to flee the scene.

Authorities said the suspect managed to carjack a vehicle before he was ultimately taken into custody.

On the hood of the stolen truck, Carrillo used his own blood to scrawl the word “boog” and “I became unreasonable,” according to the criminal complaint.

Both phrases are also associated with “Boogaloo,” a term used by the extremist group to reference a violent uprising or civil war in the United States, authorities said.

“Pat Underwood was murdered because he wore a uniform, but he was much more than just the uniform he wore. Pat Underwood was a brother, a father, and a son,” U.S. Attorney David Anderson said in statement.

“Many, many people will miss hearing the sound of his voice and laughter. Pat Underwood wore his uniform because it signified his authority to protect the courthouse where we are gathered here today.”

If Carrillo is convicted of the murder charge, he could get death. If convicted of the attempted murder charge, he faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution.

Justus, who is charged with aiding and abetting the murder and attempted murder, faces the same maximum statutory penalties.