35-Year-Old Domestic Terrorist Who Firebombed UC Berkeley and Oakland Federal Building Gets Nearly 20 Years in Prison — Admits He was Inspired by Hamas Attack

35‐year-old Casey Robert Goonan has been sentenced to 235 months — nearly 19.6 years — in federal prison for a string of firebombing attacks targeting UC Berkeley and the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland. The court formally designated him a “domestic terrorist.”

According to the plea agreement, Goonan admitted that in June 2024 he carried out a series of coordinated arsons and attempted firebombings.

On June 1, Goonan placed a bag containing six Molotov cocktails under the fuel tank of a marked University of California Police Department patrol car near the UC Berkeley campus, lit it, and fled. The vehicle caught fire.

On June 11, Goonan traveled to the Oakland federal building, carrying three Molotov cocktails, tried (by throwing rocks) to break windows so he could lob devices inside, but was thwarted by security. Instead, he placed the devices in a planter on the side of the building and lit them.

He also admitted to setting additional fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 13 and June 16, 2024. In his own statements (as part of the plea), Goonan claimed the attacks were motivated by “despair over Gaza” and that he was inspired by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. He went further, calling on others to carry out property attacks on Bay Area campuses in solidarity with Palestine.

In addition to roughly 235 months (nearly 20 years) behind bars, the court ordered 15 years of supervised release and $94,267.51 in restitution (plus a special assessment).

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According to the press release:

Casey Robert Goonan was sentenced today to 235 months in federal prison for committing a series of arsons and firebombings at the University of California, Berkeley and the Oakland federal building in June 2024.  Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence.

In January 2025, Goonan, 35, of Oakland and Pleasant Hill, pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive.

According to a plea agreement filed in open court, in the early morning hours of June 1, 2024, Goonan placed a bag containing six explosive devices commonly known as “Molotov cocktails” underneath the fuel tank of a marked University of California Police Department (UCPD) patrol car parked near the UC Berkeley campus.  Goonan lit the bag on fire and fled, causing the patrol car to catch on fire.  A video capturing the events on the morning of June 1, 2024, can be viewed here.

Goonan also attempted to firebomb the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on June 11, 2024.  Goonan arrived at the federal building carrying a bag containing three Molotov cocktails.  Goonan threw rocks at the building, hoping to break a window in order to throw lit Molotov cocktails inside. That plan was disrupted by protective services officers.  Upon fleeing from the officers, Goonan placed the Molotov cocktails in a planter on the side of building and lit them on fire.

In addition to these two attacks, Goonan set other fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, June 13, and June 16, 2024.

Goonan acknowledged that these attacks were inspired by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and that he called on others to attack property on Bay Area college campuses in support of Palestine.  Goonan admitted that his conduct was designed to influence and affect the conduct of governments by intimidation and coercion and to retaliate against the governments of the United States and the State of California for their conduct.

“Freedom of expression and peaceful protest are deeply enshrined values in America.  We are all free to think what we want and express those views peacefully, but the use of violence to achieve political aims—or to silence those with whom you may disagree—has no place in our community and our country,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.  “Anyone who crosses the line between peaceful protest and violence will be met with the full force of the law.”

“Safeguarding our communities from violence remains at the forefront of the FBI’s mission.  While free speech and peaceful protest are protected rights, turning to firebombs and arson crosses into criminal conduct that endangers lives and threatens public safety,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo. “Today’s sentencing makes clear that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate violence, and we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to harm our communities.”

At sentencing, the Court referred to Goonan as a “domestic terrorist” and found that he had committed a felony offense that involved or was intended to promote a federal crime of terrorism.

In addition to the prison term, Judge White also ordered the defendant serve 15 years of supervised release after he is released from custody and ordered restitution in the amount of $94,267.51 and a $100 special assessment.  The defendant has been in custody since his initial arrest on state charges on June 17, 2024.