A man set off an explosive device at a California courthouse, causing injuries and prompting an immediate response from law enforcement.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, a backpack containing an improvised explosive device detonated in front of the arraignment courtroom at the Santa Maria Superior Court complex on Wednesday morning.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Raquel Zick confirmed that two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the explosion. The suspect was quickly apprehended and taken into custody by 9 am, with authorities stating that they do not believe there are any additional suspects at large.
Law enforcement agencies swiftly responded to the scene, cordoning off the area and urging the public to stay away. The bomb squad was deployed to process the scene while detectives continued to interview the suspect.
Zick emphasized the deliberate nature of the attack, stating that the explosion came from an "intentionally set improvised explosive device." She also noted that the investigation was proceeding slowly due to the sensitive nature of the situation. The incident caused significant disruption to court operations, with Superior Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker informing local news outlet Noozhawk that the court was working on managing the day's appointments in light of the event.
The explosive device's detonation had a ripple effect on nearby government facilities in Santa Maria. A city spokesman reported that City Hall, the finance department, the public library, and the recreation and parks department were all placed on lockdown and remained closed for the rest of the day as a precautionary measure.
The incident also caught the attention of state-level officials, with Governor Gavin Newsom's office stating that they were actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with law enforcement agencies. Witness accounts provided additional details about the chaotic scene. Shane Mellon, who was present in the courthouse at the time, described hearing a "loud bang" followed by the swift evacuation of court personnel and attendees.
Mellon's account highlighted the quick action of law enforcement officers in subduing the suspect:
Someone showed me a video of them trying to cut the clothes off him he had a bunch of bullets coming out of his clothes. I think this could have been way worse than it was if not for the deputies just jumping on top of that guy.
This eyewitness statement suggests that the suspect may have been carrying additional explosive materials or ammunition, potentially averting a more severe incident through the rapid intervention of court security personnel.
The Santa Maria courthouse, located approximately 150 miles from Los Angeles, has historical significance as the venue where Michael Jackson was tried and acquitted of child abuse charges nearly two decades ago.
In a seemingly unrelated incident on the same day, another California courthouse faced a security threat. The San Joaquin Superior Court in Stockton, situated about 280 miles away from Santa Maria, received a bomb threat that morning. Out of an abundance of caution, authorities evacuated and closed the Stockton Courthouse for the day.
While there is no indication of a connection between the two incidents, they highlight the ongoing security challenges faced by judicial facilities across the state.
An explosive device was detonated at the Santa Maria Superior Court in California, resulting in two non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was quickly apprehended, and law enforcement agencies responded swiftly to secure the area and investigate the incident. The event caused disruptions to court operations and led to the lockdown of nearby government facilities, underscoring the potential vulnerabilities of public institutions to such threats.
