More charges filed against Richard Tillman for post office fire

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — The brother of former NFL star Pat Tillman told police that he was trying to make a statement to the U.S. government at the scene of a San Jose post office crash and fire, according to newly filed court documents.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged Richard Tillman with malicious destruction of government property by fire.

Just before 3 a.m. on July 20, he intentionally crashed his car into a United States Post Office and lit the car on fire using matches, lighter fluid, and highly flammable materials, investigators said. He allegedly livestreamed the entire incident at 6525 Crown Boulevard on his YouTube channel, named MepapasSon13.

New court documents shed more light on a strange message that Richard Tillman allegedly spray-painted over the post office’s front sign. Federal investigators said “Viva La Me” was only part of what he had planned to write.

“Tillman admitted to spray painting the words ‘Viva La Me’ on the building after starting the fire, but did not finish what he wanted to write because the heat from the fire was too intense,” United States Postal Inspector Shannon Roark wrote in court documents.

Richard Tillman did not flee from the scene. Instead, he made a confession to San Jose Police Department officers, Roark said. “Tillman made a statement to SJPD officers admitting to setting the fire. Tillman told SJPD officers he did this because he was ‘trying to make a statement to the United States Government,'” Roark wrote.

Officers arrested him as flames engulfed the post office. One SJPD officer turned the suspect’s YouTube livestream off.

On Wednesday afternoon, the 44-year-old San Jose man appeared in a federal courtroom with Judge Virginia DeMarchi presiding. He did not enter a plea.

Richard Tillman’s brother, Pat Tillman, left the Arizona Cardinals NFL team to enlist in the U.S. Army following 9/11. The professional football player-turned Army Ranger was tragically killed in action while fighting in Afghanistan in 2004.

The Tillman family previously wrote in a statement, “It’s no secret that Richard has been battling severe mental health issues for many years. He has been livestreaming … his altered self on social media for anyone to witness. Unfortunately, securing the proper care and support for him has proven incredibly difficult — or rather, impossible. As a result, none of this is as shocking as it should be.”

The late football star’s brother was also charged by Santa Clara County prosecutors with arson and vandalism for the July 20 incident.

“I don’t need bail. I don’t have anywhere to live,” Richard Tillman told a Santa Clara County judge last week. After his defense attorney raised doubts over his competency to stand trial, a judge suspended the county’s charges until psychiatrists can complete mental evaluations.

Richard Tillman is currently in federal custody. He is scheduled to return to court on August 6.