Sacramento ABC TV station shooting suspect had note naming Trump administration officials in vehicle, federal prosecutors say
Federal prosecutors say a note naming several Trump administration officials was found during a search of a vehicle allegedly owned by the suspect arrested for the Sacramento ABC TV station shooting.
In the federal complaint released Monday against Anibal Hernandez-Santana, prosecutors detailed the handwritten note. The note, which references FBI Director Kash Patel, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi, as well as Jeffrey Epstein, reads: "For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondie [sic]. They're next. – C.K. from above."
Along with the previously announced charge of interfering with a radio communication station, federal prosecutors are also charging Hernandez-Santana with possession and discharge of a firearm within a school zone. In his federal court appearance on Monday, Hernandez-Santana did not issue a plea.
His attorney, Mark Reichel, issued a statement reading that his client is "innocent unless and until proven otherwise." He remains in federal custody and is due back in court Thursday for a detention hearing.
California prosecutors also announced Monday they will be filing felony charges against the 64-year-old Hernandez-Santana.
The office of Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho said Monday that prosecutors would file charges against Anibal Hernandez-Santana, including discharging a firearm into an inhabited dwelling and assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
"We believe based upon the evidence that this was a politically motivated crime," Ho said. "As we continue to do our investigation, and look at the facts and look at his motivations, several things we're going through are his social media posts, we're going through his phones, we're going through all these other things."
He will have a separate arraignment for Sacramento County charges sometime after his Thursday court date.
The Sept. 19 shooting saw the ABC10 building along Broadway in Sacramento struck by gunfire. At least three rounds hit the building; no injuries were reported.
Hernandez-Santana was arrested hours after the shooting. He posted bail the next day but was then arrested hours later by the FBI on allegations of interfering with licensed broadcasts.
Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the shooting.
"Targeted acts of violence are unacceptable and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law," Patel wrote on X.
Reichel told CBS News Sacramento on Sunday that he was caught off guard by the FBI's involvement in the case.
"He posted bail under California state law. He was at home, we were talking on the phone, preparing for those charges. He was free for about four hours, stepped outside and the FBI went up and grabbed him," Reichel said.
Ho's office noted that a search warrant served to the suspect's home allegedly uncovered "key evidence" linking Hernandez-Santana to the shooting.
"When someone brazenly fires into a news station full of people in the middle of the day, it is not only an attack on innocent employees but also an attack on the news media and our community's sense of safety," Ho said in a statement.