California man involved in 'Boogaloo movement' sentenced to life for fatally shooting federal officer

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

OAKLAND CALIFORNIA: A California man involved in the loosely organized anti-government 'boogaloo movement' received a life sentence on Friday for his involvement in the fatal shooting of a federal security guard and the injury of another individual, 

The sentence ensures that Robert Allen Justus will spend the rest of his life behind bars unless a successful appeal is made. 

He was found guilty last year of murder and attempted murder, with his defense team attempting to shift blame to his co-defendant, Steven Carrillo, a US Air Force sergeant stationed at Travis Air Force Base during the incident.

Who are Robert Justus and Steven Carrillo?

Robert Justus’ sentence was delivered by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on Friday morning, in the same Oakland building where co-defendant Carrillo fatally shot FPS Officer David Patrick Underwood of Pinole on May 29, 2020.

David Patrick Underwood lost his life, and his partner, Sombat Mifovic sustained injuries after she was shot four times according to Santa Cruz-Sentinel.

Notably, Both Justus and Carrillo adhered to the ideology of the self-styled Boogaloo movement, a loosely structured anti-government faction convinced of an impending second US Civil War.

According to CBS, Carrillo entered a guilty plea for Underwood's death in 2022, receiving a 41-year federal prison sentence. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to the killing of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, and was sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for that crime.

What did Robert Justus admit?

The shooting triggered an 8-day manhunt and in early June 2020, Carrillo staged an ambush against Santa Cruz County deputies and California Highway Patrol officers in the vicinity of his Ben Lomond residence. 

This resulted in the killing of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and injuries to three others. 

After Carrillo was arrested, Justus was driven by his parents to the FBI building in San Francisco, where he admitted his involvement but asserted that Carrillo had coerced and threatened him into participating. 

He reiterated these assertions while testifying during his trial, with his lawyer expressing continued belief in their veracity. 

 Richard Novak, the lawyer, stated, "I believe that everything he said was truthful and always have." 

Novak and Justus were prepared for the outcome of Friday's sentencing hearing but expressed hope for reforms in the justice system to allow for the possibility of parole from federal life sentences. 

How did the deceased David Patrick Underwood’s loved ones react?

David Patrick Underwood's sister condemned Justus as "a coward," attributing her brother's death to Justus' decision to take someone's life merely because of their occupation. 

She recounted how her brother bled to death on the pavement as a result of Justus's actions.

Mifovic remembered Underwood as a "kind and caring person" who assisted colleagues with weekend projects. 

He expressed regret over the missed opportunity to deepen his friendship with Underwood, stating, "I miss you my friend."

Robert Justus apologized during the court hearing

Justus expressed his remorse in court "from the bottom of my heart." 

He stated, “I’m so sorry for it. I don’t want to ask for forgiveness. I wish I could give them back everything that they lost,” 

Justus emphasized his willingness to trade his life for theirs, not solely due to the sentence he faced, but because he wished events had unfolded differently that night.

However, Justus also expressed doubt regarding the justice served in the case, highlighting the potential for Carrillo to eventually be released if granted state parole after serving his federal prison sentence. 

Justus's sentiments were met with skepticism by Judge Gonzalez Rogers, who flatly stated, "I don’t believe you." 

She recalled observing Justus testify during the trial and noted his physical reactions indicating deception.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers asserted that Justus played a significant role in the killing of Pat Underwood and the injury of Mifovic, emphasizing that had Justus not driven the van, Underwood might still be alive. 

She characterized the incident and its aftermath as straight from the "Boogaloo Boys playbook."

Assistant US Attorney Jonathan Lee countered the notion of Justus as an unwilling participant, citing months of violent rhetoric against law enforcement online. 

He described how Justus scouted the area before returning to drive the van, with Carrillo firing from the vehicle. Lee portrayed the duo as "far-right, anti-government extremists" hoping to incite societal destabilization and spark a revolution.