Man who set off explosion at California courthouse had a criminal case there
SANTA MARIA, California — A 20-year-old man threw an explosive device into the California courthouse where he was to face a weapons charge. The explosion left five people with minor injuries and leveled the courthouse and other nearby city buildings, police said.
The incident occurred around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people in California’s central coast region. The suspect ran from the scene after the explosion and was captured as he tried to get into his vehicle, which was parked nearby.
The man, who is from Santa Maria, was wearing a bulletproof vest under his coat, according to Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Craig Bonner, and was arrested on attempted murder and explosives charges. Officials are also investigating whether the suspect is connected to a string of recent arsons.
Officials said the attack on the courthouse appeared to be related to his earlier arrest on weapons charges and not to terrorism or an act of political violence.
βWe believe this is a local matter that has been resolved in a safe manner and there are no outstanding community safety concerns,β Bonner said.
The suspect had been arrested for illegal possession of a firearm last July and was due to appear in court on Wednesday. As he entered the courthouse and walked towards the checkpoint, he threw a bag which then exploded.
Bonner said three of the five victims suffered burns. All were treated and released from the hospital. None were court employees.
Authorities evacuated a five-block radius of businesses, homes and a school after the explosion. The courthouse will be closed Thursday while police complete their investigation, and a stay of filing will be offered to those affected by the closure.
Shane Mellon told KSBY-TV that he was in court when he heard something that sounded like chairs falling over.
βIt was a loud bang,β he said, adding that the bailiff escorted him and others outside.
Mellon said he saw what appeared to be a smoldering sweater and a man screaming, as four or five people climbed on top of him and tried to restrain him.
βI think it could have been a lot worse if the officers hadn’t just jumped on the guy,β Mellon said.
Santa Maria is located about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. The courthouse, which houses state and county courts, was where Michael Jackson was tried and was acquitted of sexual abuse twenty years ago.