Man Facing Firearms Charge Tosses Bag with Explosive Inside California Courthouse, Injuring Several, Officials Report
A guy facing a guns charge walked into a California courthouse on the day of his arraignment Wednesday morning and hurled a bag containing an explosive, which detonated, wounding many persons, according to officials.
The event in the Santa Maria courthouse appears to be isolated, and the suspect has no known ties to terrorism, but the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office are investigating.
The suspect, 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire, was captured shortly after the explosion by a security guard, a Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputy, and California Highway Patrol police, according to Undersheriff Craig Bonner, who spoke to reporters hours later.
He was detained on suspicion of multiple charges, including attempted murder, using an explosive device to kill someone, and possessing explosive devices, according to Bonner.
McGuire is being jailed without bail and may face federal accusations. CNN is investigating whether he has gotten legal representation.
Six individuals were receiving treatment at Marian Regional Medical Center, according to hospital spokesperson Sandy Doucette. Several have suffered burns.
Three were classified in fair health, while the remaining three are in good condition, she said CNN. “We are providing them with the highest level of care and support,” Doucette told CNN earlier today.
According to Bonner, the suspect, who was wearing body armor underneath his jacket, was unharmed in the encounter. Officials did not disclose the bag’s contents.
The undersheriff stated that McGuire was detained in July on suspicion of a firearms violation, during which deputies seized a loaded and concealed pistol in his pocket that was not registered. Bonner said that he was scheduled to be arraigned in that matter on Wednesday.
“We do believe this could be a local incident, committed by a local individual, with a local grievance stemming from his arrest,” according to Bonner. “We are not ruling out that there is not something larger at play, but at this time, we do believe that this is a local matter that has been safely resolved and that there are no outstanding community safety concerns.”
Ted Docks, the FBI’s special agent in charge, said his organization has launched a federal investigation into the incident, and that an evidence response team, crisis response team, bomb technicians, and investigators were dispatched to the location.
“What we know at this point is that this incident is not tied to transnational terrorism and the suspect has no known ties to terrorist groups,” according to Docks.
Following the explosion, authorities evacuated the courthouse, nearby homes, and a school until the area was cleaned of any other potential unexploded explosives. Bonner said that the suspect’s vehicle and residence were also being searched.
The roads surrounding the courthouse were closed, and the public was advised to avoid the area, according to Raquel Zick of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Santa Maria is located on California’s Central Coast, approximately 160 miles north of Los Angeles.
In addition to the Santa Barbara County Superior Courthouse in Santa Maria, Santa Maria City Hall, the public library, and other city offices in the region are closed for the remainder of the day as police investigate “a bomb explosion,” according to city spokesperson Mark van de Kamp. Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker said that the courthouse will stay closed on Thursday.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which provides courthouse security throughout the county, stated in a social media post that they are on “heightened alert and providing extra patrols in and around our courts” but are unaware of any genuine threats.