Two injured after man lets off explosive device in California courthouse
Two people were injured after a man detonated an explosive device in a California courthouse.
The incident occurred Wednesday morning at the Santa Maria Superior Court complex.
The suspect is said to have thrown a backpack containing a device that went off in front of Department 9, the courtroom where the case is being heard.
“We have two reports of injuries that are not life-threatening,” spokesperson Raquel Zick said in a message on X.
She added that the the explosion was the result of a ‘deliberately placed improvised explosive device’.
Two people were injured after a man detonated an explosive device in a California courthouse
A man was immediately arrested on the spot and was in custody at 9:00 am.
There is still a large emergency services presence in the cordoned off area and police are urging the public to stay away.
“Avoid the area. The crime scene has not been determined to be safe. More information will follow,” Zick added.
Darrel Parker, the court’s executive officer, told Noozhawk that the court is currently working on how to manage appointments for that day.
A Santa Maria spokesperson told KSBY that City Hall, the Finance Department, the Public Library and the Recreation and Parks Department are all on lockdown and will remain closed for the rest of the day.
A man was immediately arrested on the spot and was in custody at 9:00 a.m.
The incident occurred Wednesday morning at the Santa Maria Superior Court complex
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said it is “actively monitoring” the explosion and cooperating with law enforcement.
Witness Shane Mellon told KSBY he was in the courtroom when he heard a “loud bang” that he thought was chairs falling over.
‘The bailiff then escorted the judge out of the courthouse and back to his office, evacuating us out the front.
‘When we came out, I saw a sweater or something smoldering. It was on fire, it was a madhouse.
‘Someone was screaming while four or five people were on top of him trying to hold him down. He was just screaming as loud as he could.
‘Someone showed me a video of them trying to cut his clothes off, and there were bullets coming out of his clothes.
Witness Shane Mellon heard a loud ‘bang’ in the courtroom before he and others were evacuated and saw an object ‘smoldering’ and the suspect was detained
The suspect is said to have thrown a backpack containing a device that went off in front of Department 9, the courtroom where the summons is served.
“I think it could have been a lot worse if the officers hadn’t just jumped on that guy.”
The courthouse is located about 150 miles from Los Angeles and is the site where Michael Jackson was tried and acquitted of child abuse nearly 20 years ago.
The singer was accused of abusing boys at his Neverland ranch during his 2005 trial, but was acquitted on all charges.
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