A 26-year-old Oakland resident, Brendan Munro Thompson, faces federal charges after allegedly driving a U-Haul truck toward U.S. Coast Guard personnel guarding a California base, prompting gunfire. The incident, which occurred on October 23, was captured on video and has sparked widespread attention due to its dramatic nature and potential implications for public safety.
Court documents unsealed on Tuesday detail that Thompson was charged with assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon after allegedly driving the U-Haul toward personnel stationed outside Coast Guard Base Alameda. The video footage shows Thompson reversing toward security personnel positioned near a barricade on the bridge connecting Coast Guard Island to Oakland. Moments later, gunfire erupted as officers shouted commands from behind cover. Thompson then accelerated away from the scene, leaving behind a chaotic aftermath.
The Coast Guard stated that the truck had been traveling ‘erratically and attempting to back into the base,’ and that security officers fired ‘several rounds of live fire’ after the driver ignored ‘multiple verbal commands’ to stop. The military branch emphasized that the firearm discharge was a defensive measure, as the vehicle’s actions posed a direct threat to the safety of Coast Guard and security personnel.
Photographs from the aftermath show officials inspecting the abandoned box truck after the driver fled. Two men were later taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, one of whom was identified as Thompson and was treated before being taken into custody. Court documents allege that Thompson reversed the truck several times before accelerating rapidly toward Coast Guard personnel who feared the vehicle could strike them or contain explosives. The Coast Guard personnel fired their weapons in self-defense, asserting the necessity of the action.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian commented on the incident, stating that the Coast Guard personnel were protecting the base as they ‘bravely do day in and day out.’ He reiterated the zero-tolerance policy for assaults on federal officers or property, emphasizing that those who commit such acts will face federal criminal charges. FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo also issued a statement, condemning the act as a ‘violent and serious federal crime’ and reaffirming the bureau’s commitment to supporting federal law enforcement.
The incident followed a protest outside the base earlier that day, where demonstrators reportedly attempted to block U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from entering. Local reports indicate that dozens of California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear were deployed to disperse the crowd, resulting in two people being detained. The confrontation took place amid discussions about a potential federal deployment to San Francisco, although President Donald Trump had reportedly called off the plan after conversations with local leaders who said progress was being made on public safety.
Thompson is scheduled for a detention and preliminary hearing on November 10, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. If convicted, Thompson faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case underscores ongoing tensions and the use of force by law enforcement in the face of perceived threats to national security and public safety.