Man Charged in California Courthouse Bombing Plot Targeting Deputies and Judge, Complaint Reveals
A man accused of setting off an improvised explosive device in a California courthouse, wounding at least five people and creating “significant and noticeable damage,” allegedly intended to kill deputies and a judge, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday.
Nathaniel James McGuire, 20, has been charged federally with malicious building damage with an explosive, according to the complaint.
Authorities said Wednesday’s incident in Santa Maria appears to be isolated, and the suspect has no known ties to terrorism.
McGuire was being held without bail. CNN is looking for attorney information for him.
McGuire was detained in July on suspicion of a firearms violation, and deputies took a loaded and concealed pistol from his pocket that was not registered, according to Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Craig Bonner. According to Bonner, McGuire was scheduled to be arraigned in that matter on Wednesday.
According to the complaint, McGuire threw a bag into the courthouse lobby on Wednesday and it burst.
“According to the on-scene bomb technician, the suspected improvised explosive device was a can containing a black powder with nails glued to the outside,” the complaint reads. “The device was wrapped in duct tape.”
According to the complaint, a deputy sheriff witnessed the event and apprehended McGuire as he attempted to get into a car outside the courthouse.
“McGuire yelled that the government had taken his guns and that everyone needed to fight, rise, and rebel,” according to the accusations.
According to the complaint, officers searched the car and discovered “a shotgun, a lever action rifle, ammunition, a suspected explosive device, and ten Molotov cocktails.”
When interviewed by law enforcement, McGuire stated that he planned to shoot the deputies working at the security desk upon his arrival, then grab a pistol from his car and kill a judge, according to the complaint.
The FBI later investigated McGuire’s home and discovered explosives-making supplies, according to reports.
CNN’s Cheri Mossburg and Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this story.