Latest news with #PatTillman
Fox News
18 hours ago
- Fox News
Pat Tillman's brother, who crashed car into post office, dealing with 'severe mental health issues'
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Richard Tillman, the brother of late NFL player and Army hero Pat Tillman who crashed into a San Jose post office on Sunday morning, has been dealing with "severe mental issues for years," his family says. Kevin Tillman, the brother of Pat and Richard, said that Richard was "livestreaming what, I'll call, his altered self on social media," which occurred during the crash. Richard told police at the scene of the crash, which set the post office ablaze after the car caught on fire, that he was live-streaming it. Richard also told officers he was Pat Tillman's brother at the scene. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON "Our family is aware that my brother Richard has been arrested," Kevin said in a statement to NBC Bay Area. "First and foremost, we are relieved that no one was physically harmed. "We have limited information at this time, but we are in communication with local authorities and are providing as much background and context as we can. FORMER TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL STAR BRIAN WILLIAMS DIES AFTER COMPETING IN HALF-MARATHON: 'PUREST IN HEART' "To be clear, it's not secret that Richard has been battling severe mental health issues for many years. He has been livestreaming, what I'll call, his altered self on social media for anyone to witness. Unfortunately, securing the proper care and support for him has proven incredibly difficult – or rather, impossible. As a result, none of this is as shocking as it should be. We have nothing further to add at this time." Richard was arrested and booked on suspicion of arson, and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, per Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office's online records. The 44-year-old crashed into the post office located in a strip mall around 3 a.m. early Sunday morning. It took about 50 firefighters an hour and a half to put out the flames, per NBC Bay Area. Pat was an NFL star for the Arizona Cardinals who famously left his career in football to enlist in the United States Army in May 2002. The decision came after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Tillman served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army Ranger, making several combat tours before being killed in the Afghanistan mountains. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP While it was initially reported that Tillman was killed by enemy fire, the Pentagon told his family that he was killed by friendly fire. In 2007, the Pentagon ruled that Tillman's death was accidental. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Pat Tillman's Brother Arrested for Arson After Crashing His Car Into a Post Office
The younger brother of former NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman was arrested after crashing his vehicle into a post office. Richard Tillman was booked on suspicion of arson in San Jose, California, on Sunday, July 20. "Shortly after 3 a.m. the San Jose Fire and Police Departments responded to reports of a vehicle on fire in the box lobby area at the Almaden Valley Station Post Office,' the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said in a statement. 'The fire was extinguished with no injuries.' Richard, 44, remains in jail and is being held without bail. Prince Harry Makes Surprise Appearance at Tillman Honors After ESPYs Federal investigators told ABC News they are aware of and investigating spray-painted words found on the exterior of the post office building and claims that Richard live-streamed the incident. 'Investigators are investigating as an intentional act,' Postal Inspector Matthew Norfleet told ABC News. 'It will, of course, be determined in a court of law whether or not it was. But it does not look like an accident so far.' A woman who lives nearby the post office said she was startled awake by 'explosions sounds.' 'I looked out the window and the post office was in flames,' Heather Roberts told ABC News. 'When we went outside, there was a man standing in the parking lot with a bunch of belongings.' A photo of Pat was visible in a box that was left near the scene. Tillman, a former star safety for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, was killed during combat while working as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan in 2004. He was 27 years old. The football player was motivated to enlist after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 'At times like this you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed,' Pat said at the time, according to his foundation's website. 'A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars and I really haven't done a damn thing.' Pat enlisted alongside his older brother, Kevin, who left his role with Major League Baseball's then-Anaheim Angels to join the armed forces. To honor Pat's legacy, the ESPY Awards created the Pat Tillman Award for Service, which recognizes a person with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way that echoes Pat's legacy. Controversy was stirred last year when ESPN announced Prince Harry as the recipient of the award. ESPN's Chris Russo Says Police Were Called on Him at Heathrow Airport for Being a 'Loud American' 'I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,' Pat's mother, Mary, told the Daily Mail in June 2024. 'There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.' Despite the feedback, ESPN stood by their decision to give the award to Harry for cofounding the Invictus Games, an international event featuring both active and veteran service members competing in a variety of sporting events. 'While we understand not everyone will agree with all honorees selected for any award, The Invictus Games Foundation does incredible work and ESPN believes this is a cause worth celebrating,' ESPN said in a statement to Us Weekly. At the 2025 ESPYs earlier this month, the Pat Tillman Award for Service was presented to Los Angeles County firefighters David Walters and Erin Regan.
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Brother of late NFL star Pat Tillman arrested after fiery post office crash
Published Jul 21, 2025 • 2 minute read Former Arizona State player Pat Tillman's wife Marie Tillman, centre, and his brother Richard Tillman, left, applaud as they watch Pat's name and jersey number enshrined in the university's ring of honor during halftime ceremonies between Washington State and Arizona State, Nov. 13, 2004, in Tempe, Ariz. Photo by Paul Connors / AP Photo SAN JOSE, Calif. — The brother of late NFL star-turned-soldier Pat Tillman was arrested in connection with fiery car crash at a San Jose, Calif., post office over the weekend, the family confirmed in a statement Monday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Richard Tillman, 44, of San Jose was arrested after the car rammed into the office located in a strip mall around 3 a.m. Sunday, causing the building to go up in flames, San Jose police said. No injuries were reported. The incident is being investigated as a 'potentially intentional act,' U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Martel said in an email Monday. There was no information about a possible motive. About 50 firefighters took about 90 minutes to knock down the flames at the Almaden Valley Station Post Office south of downtown. Photos posted online by the fire department showed a charred vehicle inside the heavily damaged one-storey building. Tillman was booked on suspicion of arson. He was held in lieu of $60,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, according to online custody records. A phone number could not be located for Tillman. Messages were sent to the Santa Clara County District Attorney asking if he has an attorney. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. His brother Kevin Tillman shared a statement from the family who said they were relieved no one was hurt. 'To be clear, it's no secret that Richard has been battling severe mental-health issues for many years,' the family said. 'He has been livestreaming, what I'll call, his altered self on social media for anyone to witness. Unfortunately, securing the proper care and support for him has proven incredibly difficult — or rather, impossible. As a result, none of this is as shocking as it should be.' The family said they had limited information but were in communication with local authorities. Pat Tillman left the Arizona Cardinals to join the military after 9/11 and was killed in Afghanistan in 2004 at age 27. His family is from the San Jose area. Kevin Tillman also left his Major League Baseball career with the Anaheim Angels to serve in the military. Richard Tillman was largely out of the public eye in the years following his brother's death. Nearly 2 million people live in the metropolitan area of San Jose, about 80 km south of downtown San Francisco. Celebrity Canada Columnists Canada Toronto & GTA
UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
Brother of Pat Tillman arrested in fiery post office crash, police say
1 of 2 | An Army fan holds a jersey of former Arizona Cardinals linebacker and U.S. Army Rangers Pat Tillman, who gave up his football career to serve in Afghanistan before being killed by friendly fire in 2004. File Photo by John Anderson/UPI | License Photo July 21 (UPI) -- A suspect, accused of deliberately driving a car into a California post office and starting a fire Sunday morning, is reported to be the brother of late NFL player and U.S. Army ranger Pat Tillman, according to federal postal investigators. Authorities said they arrested Richard Tillman, 44, after a car hit the front of the Almaden Valley post office in San Jose around 3 a.m. PDT. "Early this morning, SJFD firefighters responded to a fire at the Post Office on the 6500 block of Crown Blvd in south San Jose," the fire department wrote in a post on X. "Second alarm response with 50 personnel on the scene. Defensive operations. No injuries reported. Cause is under investigation." Early this morning, #SJFD firefighters responded to a fire at the Post Office on the 6500 block of Crown Blvd in south SJ. Second alarm response with ~50 personnel on scene. Defensive operations. No injuries reported. Cause is under investigation. TOC: 2:58am; Knockdown: 4:31am. San José Fire Dept. (@SJFD) July 20, 2025 U.S. Postal Inspector Matthew Norfleet said investigators believe the fire, which caused extensive damage, was an intentional act. "We're definitely investigating it as possibly an intentional act, so driving the vehicle into the building and then starting the fire can't be ruled out as having been done on purpose," Norfleet said. Pat Tillman was a former Arizona Cardinals player who left the NFL to enlist with the U.S. Army following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. He was killed by friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan three years later. Richard Tillman is being held without bond at the Santa Clara County Jail and is scheduled to be in court Wednesday. His family issued a statement, saying he has been "battling severe mental health issues" for years. "We have limited information at this time but we are in communication with local authorities and are providing as much background and context as we can," read the statement, signed by Kevin Tillman and obtained by KTVU. "To be clear, it's no secret that Richard has been battling severe mental health issues for many years," he added. "Unfortunately, securing the proper care and support for him has proven incredibly difficult -- or rather, impossible." According to investigators, there "may be video broadcasts related to this event" as the driver may have live-streamed the crash. Spray-painted words were also found on the post office building that read, "Viva La Me."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Disturbing update on Pat Tillman's brother after arrest for crashing car into a post office
The brother of late NFL star and U.S. army ranger Pat Tillman had been struggling with 'severe mental health issues' before his arrest at the weekend, his family have said. Richard Tillman was taken into custody by cops in San Jose, California on Sunday after allegedly drivng his car into a post office and causing a huge blaze. He is being held on $60,000 bail. Kevin Tillman, his brother, has outlined how Richard had been struggling for 'many years' before Sunday's incident. He told NBC Bay Area: 'To be clear, it's no secret that Richard has been battling severe mental health issues for many years. He has been livestreaming, what I'll call, his altered self on social media for anyone to witness. 'Unfortunately, securing the proper care and support for him has proven incredibly difficult - or rather, impossible. 'As a result, none of this is as shocking as it should be.' A car, allegedly driven by Richard Tillman, crashed into a post office in San Jose Officers reportedly discovered a burning vehicle crashed into the post office on the 6500 block of Crown Boulevard at around 3am. The fire spread to the rest of the building, although no injuries were reported. Pat Tillman famously abandoned his NFL career to join the US Army at the onset of then-President George W. Bush's War on Terror in 2002. After deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Tillman was killed in a friendly fire incident in April of 2004 near the Pakistan border at the age of 27.
