SAN JOSE, CA (AP/AZFamily) — The brother of late Arizona Cardinals legend and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman was arrested after a car crashed into a post office in San Jose, California, early Sunday. No injuries were reported.
Emergency crews responded around 3 a.m. to the office located in a strip mall south of downtown San Jose, according to a joint statement from the police and fire departments.
“Upon arrival, they discovered a vehicle had been driven into the post office and caught fire, causing the entire building to catch on fire,” the statement said.
About 50 firefighters took about an hour and a half to knock down the flames. Photos posted online by the fire department showed a charred vehicle inside the heavily damaged one-story building.
The suspect arrested was identified as 44-year-old Richard Tillman, Pat’s brother, as reported by CBS News.
Pat Tillman played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before leaving the NFL and enlisting in the Army in 2002. He was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, at the age of 27. The Army originally told his family he had been killed by enemy fire when he charged up a hill to protect his fellow rangers. They later admitted he had actually been killed by friendly fire.
Authorities say Richard intentionally reversed his vehicle into the lobby of the Almaden Station Post Office, then set the building on fire. The post office is now considered a total loss.
Federal postal investigators said Richard had spray-painted “Viva La Me” on the building’s exterior. “Viva la” is Spanish for “long live,” but authorities said the meaning of the full phrase is unclear.
“As far as what the message means, that is a very unanswered question,” U.S. Postal Inspector Matthew Norfleet said. “We all know the tragic events that occurred to Pat Tillman and have nothing but respect for his family. That raises more questions than answers.”
Richard Tillman is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday at noon. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
Nearly 2 million people live in the metropolitan area of San Jose, about 50 miles south of downtown San Francisco.
The Associated Press and CBS News contributed to this report.
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