Oakland resident Casey Robert Goonan has been handed down a sentence of more than 19 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to firebombing a University of California Police Department vehicle and attempting to attack the Oakland federal building. The sentencing, delivered by Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, was reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. Goonan received a prison term of 235 months, followed by 15 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $94,267.51 along with a $100 special assessment.
In June 2024, Goonan ignited six Molotov cocktails placed under a UCPD patrol car, causing significant damage to the vehicle. An additional attempt to firebomb the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse was thwarted by protective services officers. The 35-year-old defendant was quickly arrested following these events and has remained in custody since June 17, 2024. The surveillance video of the June 1 attack can be viewed through a link provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office, revealing the extent of Goonan's deliberate actions to damage property through arson. In a statement obtained by Hoodline, UCPD officers were able to swiftly respond to the fire, preventing the patrol car from exploding, although it sustained extensive damage.
The attacks committed by Goonan were said to be inspired by an attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, against Israel. Goonan admitted to his conduct being designed to "influence and affect the conduct of governments by intimidation and coercion and to retaliate against the governments of the United States and the State of California for their conduct," according to the plea agreement, per the U.S. Attorney's Office. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian emphasized the principle that violence has no place in the community or the country, praising the distinction between peaceful protest and violent actions that endanger lives.
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo reiterated this point, highlighting that while free speech and peaceful protest are rights protected by the Constitution, crossing the line into the territory of firebombs and arson is a harmful criminal act. "Today’s sentencing makes clear that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate violence, and we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to harm our communities," Cobo stated, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Goonan's activities on UC Berkeley's campus, beyond the firebombing of the police vehicle, included multiple other acts of arson on June 1, June 13, and June 16, 2024, further demonstrating a pattern of behavior aimed at destruction and terror.
