A bomb attack at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, California, has left at least five people injured, and the culprit has been apprehended and charged.
Nathaniel James McGuire, 20, of Santa Maria, was charged with one count of using a weapon of mass destruction, one count of maliciously damaging a building by means of explosive, and one count of possessing unregistered destructive devices.
The incident occurred on September 25, 2023, when McGuire entered the courthouse and threw a bag into the lobby, which exploded upon impact. McGuire then fled the scene on foot.
Law enforcement officials later apprehended McGuire as he attempted to access a red Ford Mustang car parked outside the building. Inside the car, authorities found ammunition, a flare gun, a box of fireworks, a shotgun, a rifle, more ammunition, a suspected bomb, and 10 Molotov cocktails.
McGuire allegedly told law enforcement officials that he intended to re-enter the courthouse with the firearms in order to kill a judge.
A search of McGuire’s residence revealed an empty can with nails glued to the outside, a duffel bag containing matches, black powder, used and unused fireworks, and papers that appeared to be recipes for explosive material.
McGuire’s arraignment is scheduled for October 25, 2023 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
If convicted of all charges, McGuire would face a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
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- Richard Tillman, Malicious Destruction by Fire, California 2024 · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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