Casey Robert Goonan, a 35-year-old man, has been sentenced to a substantial 235 months—nearly 20 years—in federal prison after a spree of firebombing incidents that targeted the University of California, Berkeley, as well as the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland. The court identified him as a “domestic terrorist,” ensuring he won’t be taking any vacations for quite some time.
In a plea agreement, Goonan confessed to executing a series of coordinated arson attacks in June 2024. Among his most audacious acts on June 1, he placed a bag filled with six Molotov cocktails beneath the fuel tank of a University of California Police Department patrol car, ignited it, and then made a hasty exit. The vehicle, unsurprisingly, went up in flames.
Just ten days later, Goonan aimed for the federal building in Oakland, this time attempting to shatter its windows to toss in his concocted firebombs. However, after failing to breach security, he resorted to placing the Molotov cocktails in a nearby planter and lighting them, perhaps hoping the plants would appreciate a little warmth.
Goonan further admitted to igniting additional fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 13 and 16. In his statements included in the plea agreement, he cited “despair over Gaza” as his motivation. He also bizarrely claimed inspiration from the Hamas attack on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023, and notably encouraged others to engage in similar property attacks at Bay Area campuses in solidarity with Palestine.
In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, the court imposed a 15-year period of supervised release after Goonan’s incarceration and levied a restitution fee of $94,267.51, accompanied by a special assessment.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Casey Goonan sentenced to 19 years in prison for firebombing a police car at UC Berkeley!
To add to the drama, he reportedly has connections to Hamas!
His actions were rightly classified as domestic terrorism! Goonan even admitted he was inspired by the… pic.twitter.com/AvVEi55HWM
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 27, 2025
According to a press release from the Justice Department:
Today, Casey Robert Goonan was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for a string of arson and firebombing acts affecting the University of California, Berkeley, and the Oakland federal building in June 2024. Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White delivered the sentence.
Goonan, who pleaded guilty in January 2025 to charges of maliciously damaging property related to interstate commerce via fire or explosives, executed his firebombing strategies in the early hours of June 1, 2024, with an assignment under a police vehicle that wasn’t exactly subtle.
He also attempted to ignite the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building, arriving with several Molotov cocktails and hoping to introduce them into the building with a little window mischief, which was, thankfully, thwarted by protective services officers. After attempting to escape, he resorted to igniting his cocktails in a nearby planter.
These audacious attempts were just the tip of the iceberg, as Goonan admitted to further arson on the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, June 13, and June 16.
He candidly stated that these actions were inspired by the Hamas attack on Israel, boldly urging others to conduct property attacks on nearby college campuses under the banner of solidarity with Palestine. Goonan’s actions were clearly aimed at coercing governmental conduct through intimidation—a textbook definition of domestic terrorism.
“The principles of freedom of expression and peaceful protest lie at the heart of American values,” stated U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Yet, violence to achieve political objectives has no place in our society.” Meanwhile, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo emphasized the breadth of their commitment to protecting communities from such criminal conduct.
As a result of this conviction, Goonan now faces an extensive prison term and a rigorous lifetime watch upon release. He has been in custody since his arrest on state charges on June 17, 2024.
