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He pleaded ignorance when the FBI increased the pressure
Robert Alvin Justus Jr. had decided that he was done. The FBI was needed to help him get his thoughts out.
Justus drove a white van unmarked past a federal building in Oakland two weeks before, while Steven Carrillo – a U.S. Air Force Sergeant – sprayed bullets into the security booth of the building, killing a Federal Protective Services officer and injuring another.
Carrillo had been arrested, but Justus became increasingly paranoid. The FBI was driving a tinted-window silver SUV outside Justus’ Millbrae apartment. He guessed this, and it proved to be accurate. He was most afraid of his fellow Boogaloo followers, an anti-government loosely organized group which is planning a second Civil War. They are also alleged to have been the inspiration for the Oakland attacks.
Justus said, “My life has been hell ever since,” at the start of an hour-long FBI interview in June 2020. Later, he added: “Honestly, it’s a shame I did all of this.”
The transcript of the FBI’s interrogation, which was made public for the very first time in recent years, provides new information about how an assassination occurred just a few steps from George Floyd’s massive demonstration. It also reveals Justus’ likely defense. Justus’s trial will begin next week. Justus faces murder and attempted-murder charges.
Transcripts show that Carrillo was arrested in Santa Cruz County after he ambushed police and killed Sheriff’s Sergeant. Carrillo had also been accused of murdering a sheriff’s sergeant. Damon Gutzwiller after the Underwood murder.
Justus pleaded ignorance when agents asked him why he hadn’t done more to prevent the Underwood shooting.
Justus, as per the transcript, insisted: “I’ve been elected class clown each and every year since I was in high school.” “I’m not paying as much attention as I should to anything f–ing.” I’m a complete dunce.”
The prosecutors claim that the 33-year old locksmith arrived at the San Francisco Federal Building at 450 Golden Gate Ave., on June 11, 2021, accompanied by his parents, who informed the security guards at the entrance of the building that their son wanted to visit the FBI.
Justus, based on his own FBI statements, is likely to portray himself as a kind of hostage. He believed that he went to Oakland to protest Floyd’s police killing, but instead became Carrillo’s driver, with a mission “to kill as many agents, cops if possible.”
Carrillo admitted to the murders of Underwood and Gutzwiller. For the Oakland ambush, he was given a sentence of 41 years federal prison and a life term without parole. He is being held in Mule Creek State Prison.
In the 202 page transcript, it is clear that FBI agents got to know Justus well and repeatedly asked him for his full story. They gave him soda, cigarettes, and cigarettes during the breaks of the interrogation.
Justus and his father were seated in a small room with several FBI agents who interrogated him about not only the shooting on May 29, 2020 but Also Justus’ communication with Boogaloo followers. He claimed to have met Carrillo via a Boogaloo-followers Facebook group called “/K/alifornia Kommando” which was shut down.
Justus said to his father, “I am scared” at one stage during the interview.
Justus was assured by FBI agent Richard Harvey that if he kept his focus and spoke the truth, he’d feel a great sense of relief.
Harvey told the audience: “Trust me, once this is off your chest you’ll feel a million times better.”
Justus told the FBI he had decided to take a car to the protest instead of using BART. The two met at the San Leandro parking lot of BART, where things took an ugly turn. Carrillo, according to him, pulled back an homemade curtain in the van, which revealed body armor, several firearms, and molotov cocktail. Carrillo then spotted a bus driver from AC Transit approaching, and told him he would kill him.
I said to him, “Dude, that guy looks like a dude who is on a break. Don’t do it, he isn’t even paying attention. Justus said to the FBI, “Don’t do it.” Carrillo thought it over and replied, “Yeah. You’re correct.” He then went on to continue filling more magazines.
Justus then claimed that Carrillo pointed a gun at him, accusing him of being “a cop or a rodent.” After Justus assured him this was not the case, Carrillo told Justus to take the van to Oakland.
Justus told Carrillo that when they reached the federal building in Oakland on Clay Street he had decided to try and talk him out of anything. The transcript states that he thought they would just drive off when Carrillo shocked him by opening up the door to the moving van, and shooting at the booth.
I told him that they looked like security guards and not police officers. Justus revealed that he had opened the door, and then shot at them. The door closed, he aimed the gun at my face and told me to get in the car.
Justus described Carrillo as “energetic”, a marked difference to his previous “scary-calm” behavior. Justus claimed that he had seen Underwood, the second police officer and themselves fall to the ground as the shots were fired but remained convinced no one else was hurt.
CHP officers blocked the entrance to the freeway as they headed towards it. Carrillo told Justus, as the van drove on, to throw a few nails out of the window and onto the road. He then suggested that they drive to Concord. Justus, fearing he’d be the next victim of a murderous attack, convinced Carrillo that they should return to Millbrae.
Justus told Carrillo that he would be going home and drinking some bourbon, which he had been saving up for years. Justus said that he would make excuses to Carrillo whenever he asked to meet up again. He also deleted all messages on his phone.
Harvey accelerated the pace of the conversation at the end, and expressed doubt that Justus was as ignorant as he had claimed.
Harvey stated that it was obvious when one lands in Oakland, something bad will happen. You have at least two chances to get out and walk for five or seven minutes, but nothing ever happens. What is that telling a human looking from outside, who has gathered this information?
Justus responded, “I’m not sure.”
Harvey asked, “Well… you don’t even know?” You don’t realize what people think about …”
Justus interrupted, “I need an attorney.”
Justus was then told by FBI agents that he had been arrested for attempted murder, murder and conspiracy to commit the crime. His tone changed and he demanded another cigarette. He also complained of pain due to an infected hemorrhoid, and threatened to pee on himself if he wasn’t taken to a bathroom.
You had said we were respectful to each other and communicating well. Harvey asked, “Why did you raise your voice?”
Harvey responded, “We’re finished talking brother.” Harvey was then taken to Santa Rita Jail, Dublin.
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