Authorities are currently investigating a dramatic incident involving a car that crashed into a post office in San Jose, California, early Sunday morning. This unfortunate event led to a fire that engulfed the building, prompting a swift response from local firefighters and law enforcement.
The crash occurred shortly before 3 AM at the post office, which is situated in a strip mall south of downtown San Jose, according to the San Jose Police Department. In a surprising turn of events, police have taken a suspect, identified as Richard Tillman, into custody. Richard Tillman is notably the brother of Pat Tillman, the former NFL star who famously enlisted in the Army following the September 11 attacks.
Following the crash, approximately 50 firefighters were deployed to the scene and worked diligently for about an hour and a half to extinguish the flames. Images shared online by the fire department depicted a severely charred vehicle situated inside the heavily damaged post office building, underscoring the severity of the incident.
According to reports from NBC Bay Area, Richard Tillman identified himself to officers at the scene as the brother of Pat Tillman. Pat Tillman, a native of San Jose, was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals before he made the courageous decision to leave his lucrative football career and serve in Iraq as a response to the tragic events of September 11. His legacy grew even larger after his untimely death in Afghanistan, which was later revealed to have resulted from friendly fire—a fact that the Pentagon initially attempted to cover up.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that Richard Tillman was booked on Sunday and is currently being held without bail. However, specific details regarding the charges against him remain unclear at this time. An inquiry has been sent to the US Postal Inspection Service for further information regarding this incident.
San Jose is a bustling metropolitan area with a population of nearly 2 million people, located about 50 miles (80 km) south of downtown San Francisco. This incident has drawn significant attention from both local residents and media outlets, as it raises questions about safety and security in public spaces.
