Credited from: LATIMES
Richard Tillman, the brother of late NFL player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman, was arrested on July 20 for allegedly crashing a vehicle into the Almaden Valley Post Office in San Jose, California, causing a significant fire. Authorities confirmed that the incident occurred shortly after 3 a.m., and Richard Tillman was subsequently booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of arson, according to ABC News and Newsweek.
The San Jose Police Department reported that firefighters extinguished the blaze with no injuries, yet the post office sustained extensive damage. Over 50 personnel responded to the incident, which was under investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as a possible intentional act. Graffiti with the words "Viva la me" was found spray-painted on the building, leading inspectors to probe the motives behind the crash, as outlined by SFGATE and LA Times.
Investigators remain uncertain whether Richard Tillman was impaired during the incident. There are claims that he live-streamed the crash on social media. The motive for the alleged arson is still being explored, with some reports indicating that his online activity reflected concerning themes prior to the incident, as noted by Newsweek and LA Times.
Richard Tillman, 44, is being held on a $60,000 bond with a court hearing scheduled in the coming days. His brother, Pat Tillman, famously left a successful NFL career to enlist in the Army after the September 11 attacks, tragically losing his life in Afghanistan in 2004 from friendly fire, which adds a layer of complexity to this developing situation, according to ABC News, SFGATE, and LA Times.