Suspect detained after ‘intentionally set improvised explosive device’ goes off at California courthouse
Police said 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire was responsible for an explosion at the Santa Maria courthouse in California. He was due in court for an alleged firearm violation at the time.
A suspect has been detained and identified after intentionally setting off an explosion at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California, on Thursday morning.
During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Santa Barbara Undersheriff Clay Bonner identified the suspect as 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire, of Santa Maria.
Bonner said McGuire was at the Santa Maria courthouse Wednesday morning for an arraignment stemming from a recent arrest for an alleged firearm violation.
McGuire, who authorities said was wearing body armor, threw a bag containing the explosives at the security checkpoint, then attempted to flee but was detained outside the courthouse, Bonner said.
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The call came in at 8:48 a.m., Raquel Zick, a spokesperson for the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office posted on X.
"Subject who is detained is an adult male. Explosion was from an intentionally set improvised explosive device," Zick continued. "We have two reports of non-life-threatening injuries. One person of interest detained immediately. Scene remains active. Please continue to avoid the area."
In total, five patients went to the hospital, four were transported from the scene and one went on their own. Officials said three patients were being treated and released for burns.
Authorities said no court employees were wounded in the explosion.
Officials believe the incident to be a local grievance stemming from McGuire's prior arrest.
Investigators are also looking into whether McGuire was involved in other recent arson fires.
Local law enforcement are working with the FBI and federal prosecutors to determine if federal charges will be brought. For now, the case is local.
The courthouse will be closed Thursday, authorities said.
McGuire was booked at the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Barbara County for attempted murder, using an explosive device and attempting to kill someone, and possession of explosive devices. He is being held on no bail.
The incident happened just hours after a bus in Los Angeles was hijacked on Wednesday morning, leading to a pursuit by police.
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A suspect fatally shot a passenger before hijacking the vehicle and then leading police on a wild chase for over an hour before he was apprehended by a SWAT team, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) tells Fox News Digital.
Police say the suspect shot at least one person before holding the driver at gunpoint and forcing him to drive northbound. During the initial stages of the hijacking, other passengers were seen exiting the bus, police say.
The LAPD’s SWAT team eventually stopped the bus at 2:05 a.m. in the vicinity of South Alameda Street and 6th Street, about six miles northeast of where the initial hijacking took place.
Police deployed spike strips to slow it down and it eventually came to a stop before the suspect barricaded himself in the vehicle.
The suspect was taken into custody and the injured victim was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries, police say. Police say the incident is now being treated as a homicide investigation.
