An Air Force Vet Was Inspired By The Boogaloo Boys To Overthrow The Government. Then, He Killed Two Cops.

An Air Force vet killed two law enforcement officers in a bid to overthrow the U.S. government.

Now, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Recently, United States District Court Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sentenced Steven Carrillo to 41 years in federal prison for the shooting death of Protective Services Officer Dave Patrick Underwood. Carrillo pleaded guilty to first-degree murder after prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.

On May 29, 2020, after posting several messages on social media about attending a protest rally for the slaying of George Floyd in Oakland, California, the defendant with another assailant, Robert Alvin Justus Jr., drove to the event in a van that was well-armed with several firearms.

After surveilling the protest area, including the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, the 34-year-old former Air Force Staff Sargeant fired almost 20 shots with an AR-15 rifle at two security officers while the van drove by. Underwood was killed, and the other officer suffered life-threatening injuries.

Carrillo admitted being influenced by the Boogaloo Boys’ ideology that is based on ousting the federal government by violent acts, reported Los Angeles Times.

A week after the incident, in an unrelated incident, Carrillo ambushed and killed Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and attempted to kill four other Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputies and a civilian.

The defendant claimed his violent behavior was due to his belief that he was being arrested for Underwood’s murder at the time.

Carrillo resident was later charged with murder and attempted murder and later pleaded guilty to nine felony charges with enhancements for Gutzwiller’s homicide. In addition, he pleaded guilty to several weapons and explosive charges.

The conviction will earn the defendant a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.

“Our hearts go out to all Santa Cruz County law enforcement officers affected by the horrific events on June 6, 2020, in particular the Gutzwiller family. Although nothing can bring Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller back, we hope that today can bring some measure of justice for everyone touched by this tragedy. The plea today, to life in prison without the possibility of parole, will ensure that the defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison where he belongs," said Santa Cruz District Attorney, Jeffery S. Rosell, according to CBS News.

Carrillo is scheduled for a restitution hearing on Sept. 1.