Court records or official statements from law enforcement agencies

Casey Robert Goonan Arrested for Arson Attacks During Pro-Palestinian Protests at UC Berkeley

Jun 18, 2024, 10:21 AM

A series of pro-Palestinian protests and arson attacks have occurred at California universities. At California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA), protesters barricaded a building with university employees inside, including the president, leading to remote classes and restricted campus access. The university president declared that the protesters were no longer welcome on campus after significant damage was caused. Meanwhile, at UC Berkeley, anti-Israel activists claimed responsibility for multiple arson attacks, including firebombing a police vehicle and setting fires on campus. Casey Robert Goonan, a 34-year-old Oakland resident with a Ph.D. in African American Studies from Northwestern University, was arrested in connection with these attacks. Goonan's actions were reportedly in retaliation for the university's handling of pro-Palestinian protests. He is being held on $1 million bail after a multi-agency investigation linked him to the firebombing of a police vehicle and three other arson attacks.