A 20-year-old Santa Barbara County man accused of tossing a bomb inside a courthouse, injuring five people, on the same day he was to be arraigned on gun charges is now facing additional charges, officials with the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
The Sept. 25 incident unfolded just before 9 a.m. at a courthouse in Santa Maria.
Authorities allege that Nathaniel McGuire, himself from Santa Maria, entered the facility and threw a bag at the security screening station.
The bag exploded while McGuire, who was wearing body armor under his jacket, attempted to flee to his parked red Ford Mustang, but was apprehended by a court security officer, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy and a California Highway Patrol officer.
Following the explosion, local law enforcement and paramedics rushed to the scene after receiving word of at least two injuries.
The number of victims eventually grew, with four people being transported to a local hospital, Bonner said. An additional victim later arrived at the hospital on their own, he added.