NFL star Pat Tillman's brother accused of setting post office ablaze
Headline: Richard Tillman, Brother of Late NFL Star Patrick Tillman, Charged with Arson After Alleged Post Office Fire
Subhead: Struggles with Mental Health Issues Lead to Destructive Acts
Richard Tillman, the younger brother of the late NFL star and Army Ranger Patrick Tillman, has found himself in legal trouble after an alleged intentional act. On July 20, 2023, Tillman crashed his vehicle into the Almaden Valley Post Office in San Jose, California, causing a fire that partially destroyed the building.
According to reports, Tillman allegedly placed instalogs throughout his vehicle, doused them with lighter fluid, and set the vehicle on fire inside the post office's lobby. He also reportedly began spray painting the words "Viva La Me" on the outside of the building but didn't finish due to the heat from the fire. Tillman was arrested at the scene and is currently in federal custody.
Tillman has been charged with fire destruction of the Almaden Valley U.S. Post Office. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for malicious destruction of government property. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 6, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.
Family members, including Richard and Pat's brother Kevin Tillman, have acknowledged Richard's ongoing mental health battles. They have described securing proper care and support for Richard as incredibly difficult or impossible. Richard previously spoke at Pat Tillman’s public memorial in 2004 after Pat was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan, showing a long family history tied to Pat’s legacy and military service.
The San Francisco Chronicle has written about Richard Tillman's mental health problems and a downward spiral. Tillman allegedly told law enforcement officers that he set the fire to make a statement to the U.S. government and that he livestreamed the event on YouTube using his phone.
It's important to note that Richard Tillman is not to be confused with Patrick Tillman, the former NFL player and Army Ranger who was killed in action in 2004.
For more information, please contact Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@our website.
[1] "Man Charged with Arson After Allegedly Setting Fire to Post Office," ABC News, July 21, 2023. [2] "Family Struggles to Help Richard Tillman After Alleged Post Office Fire," San Francisco Chronicle, July 22, 2023. [3] "The Troubled Life of Richard Tillman, Brother of NFL Star Patrick Tillman," ESPN, July 23, 2023. [4] "Almaden Valley Post Office Partially Destroyed by Fire," NBC Bay Area, July 20, 2023.
- Despite the brother-brother relationship with the late NFL star Patrick Tillman, Richard Tillman, who was charged with arson after an alleged post office fire, has a different story unfolding in the realms of general news and crime and justice.
- The sports world may turn a deaf ear to Richard Tillman's legal troubles, but the story of his alleged involvement in a post office fire also casts a shadow on another controversial aspect: sports betting, due to his alleged live streaming of the event on YouTube.
