Five people were injured on Wednesday in an explosion at the Santa Maria Courthouse in California. Law enforcement officials arrested the suspect for allegedly throwing an “improvised explosive device” at the courthouse.
According to a press release by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, an explosion was reported at the Santa Maria Court House at roughly 8:48 a.m. on Wednesday. The sheriff’s office announced that 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire was arrested for exploding an “improvised explosive device at the Santa Maria Courthouse” near department 9.
The press release stated, “Sheriff’s deputies, along with Santa Maria Police officers, CHP, fire and medics responded to the scene where a male suspect, later identified as McGuire, had just entered the facility, threw a bag at the screening station, and the bag exploded in the hallway.”
After throwing the backpack with the improvised explosive device, the suspect ran to the southeast parking lot and was detained by a Sheriff’s deputy, a court security officer, and California Highway Patrol officers while trying to enter his vehicle. Wednesday’s press release noted that McGuire was alone and was wearing body armor under his jacket when he was arrested.
READ MORE: Pic: Shots fired into Kamala Harris campaign office
According to law enforcement officials, McGuire has been taken into custody and booked at the Northern Branch Jail on felony charges regarding Wednesday’s “court bombing,” including manufacturing an explosive device, attempted murder, and using an explosive device for attempted murder.
“Although this is an ongoing investigation and we are exploring all possible angles, at this point in time, we do believe this to be a local incident committed by a local individual with a local grievance stemming from his arrest,” Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Craig Bonner Bonner said. “We are not absolutely 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 there are no outstanding community safety concerns.”
Law enforcement officials shared that McGuire’s motivation appears to have been related to his arrest by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office on July 28 over firearm violations. According to the press release, McGuire was previously arrested for possessing a loaded and concealed weapon that was not registered to him. The 20-year-old was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday at the Santa Maria Courthouse.
According to the press release, five individuals were treated at a local hospital after being injured in Wednesday’s explosion. The press release noted that three of the victims were “physically injured with non-life-threatening injuries, including burns.” However, all of the victims were released from the hospital on Wednesday.
