Hundreds Gather To Mourn Slain Federal Security Officer David Patrick Underwood
PINOLE (CBS SF) -- For the second time this week, family, friends and law enforcement gathered in the San Francisco Bay Area to say farewell to an officer killed during a spree of violence allegedly by "Boogaloo Boy" Steven Carrillo in an attempt to stoke the fires of discontent over the death of George Floyd into a racial civil war.
The family of Federal Protective Officer Dave Patrick Underwood held a public memorial service at his alma mater Pinole Valley High School, where Underwood was a star student-athlete at the school in the '80s.
"Pat" Underwood, as he was known, died from gunshot wounds sustained during a drive-by shooting from a white van on the night of May 29 as a protest in downtown Oakland that began as a peaceful demonstration over Floyd's death erupted into violence and looting. Underwood and a colleague were working that night as contract security officers at Oakland's Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building complex when a gunman opened fire and killed him and seriously wounded his partner as they guarded the building.
Family and friends said he was a people person, always respectful, and willing to help. They said that was why he went into law enforcement.
"He died with honor. He died with dignity. And he died with the respect for the people in the community that he loved to serve," said his older sister Angela Underwood Jacobs.
"Patrick was a hero to us," said George Phillips, who had been friends with Underwood for 40 years. "We commend him for his life that put on the line for all of us. He needs to be recognized as a hero."
"We're not crying Black tears, we're not crying White tears. We're crying human tears. We're not crying Republican tears or Democratic tears, we're crying heartbreak tears. We're not crying law enforcement tears or law-deprived tears. We're crying justice tears," said Pastor Alvin Bernstine of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in his eulogy.
While they support the demonstrations for police reform, family and friends said it's easy for people to forget the risks officers face every day. They said it can feel like a thankless job; officers wanted when people need help and criticized when something goes wrong.
"Patrick was murdered by the blind violence of hatred, ignorance, fear, and discrimination," said Underwood Jacobs.
As they celebrated his life and honored his service, his family reminded people to avoid putting a broad label on law enforcement. They said they too feel the pain of a senseless killing.
Family of the 53-year-old Underwood said he had already bought an engagement ring and was about to propose to his girlfriend.
Acting chief of Homeland Security Chad Wolf was among the mourners at Pinole High School service.
"The recent shooting in Oakland that led to the death of FPS officer David Underwood and the injury of one of his FPSO colleagues was a horrific tragedy," Wolf said in a statement released Thursday. "I grieve with the FPS, the FPS community and the enter DHS family. The loss of such a fine man in an act of senseless, cowardly violence. Officer Underwood gave his life protecting us and we owe him, his family, his colleagues a debt of gratitude that we will never be able to repay."
Oakland Federal Building Shooting:
- Facebook Shuts Down Groups Where Boogaloo Suspects Posted Before Attacks
- 'Let's Boogie'; Facebook Posts Reveal Alleged Gunman Steven Carrillo's Mindset Before Oakland Federal Guard Slaying
- Security Officers Gunned Down At Oakland Federal Building; DHS Official Calls Gunman 'An Assassin'
- Sister Of Federal Guard Killed In Oakland Tells Congress "He Did Not Deserve To Die"
- FBI Identifies Federal Officer Killed Near Oakland Friday-Night Protest
Authorities allege that Carrillo, 32, had ties to the far-right, anti-government "boogaloo" movement and had hatched a plan to target federal law enforcement officials during the Oakland protest.
Federal murder charges carrying the death penalty have been filed against Carillo, an Air Force Staff Sergeant assigned to an elite security unit at Travis Air Force Base.
Investigators said the same van has been associated with both shootings and the same homemade AR-15-style rifle was used. Eight days after the Oakland shooting, Carrillo allegedly killed a Santa Cruz deputy in a hail of gunfire that wounded four other officers.
Carrillo also faces separate state murder and attempted murder charges for the June 6 fatal shooting of Santa Cruz County sheriff's Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller.
Underwood Jacobs, who was recently a Republican candidate to fill a vacant U.S. district north of Los Angeles, spoke before Congress last week in a House hearing on racial profiling and police brutality. She remembered her brother as "a good man who only wanted to help others and keep his community safe. He had an infectious laugh and a corny sense of humor."
Jacobs said her brother was proud to serve his community and asked why his killing has not elicited an outcry.
"My brother wore a uniform, and he wore that uniform proudly," Jacobs said. "I'm wondering, where is the outrage for a fallen officer that also happens to be African American?"
