Somehow, a criminal defendant was able to slip a bomb through courthouse security in Santa Maria, California. Wednesday morning’s explosion injured at least six people. Those are the ones who were treated at the hospital. Others may have sustained less serious wounds. 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire remains in custody, with a whole list of fresh charges.
Criminal with a grudge
Nathaniel McGuire was only up on a fairly minor criminal firearms charge but apparently, he took it personally. He managed to get a bomb through security when he showed up for an arraignment.
Instead of simply pleading not guilty and forcing the state to prove their case, he tossed a bag “containing an explosive” toward the judge. It went off, “injuring several people.” That wasn’t nice. He’ll have a hard time proving he didn’t do it.
Until he bombed the Santa Maria courthouse, the suspect had “no known ties to terrorism.” They consider what the petty criminal did on September 25 an “isolated” incident.
Even so, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are muscling their way in to the investigation. Under cover of the blast, McGuire tried to duck out but “was apprehended by a security guard, a Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputy and California Highway Patrol officers.”
According to Under-sheriff Craig Bonner at a news conference several hours later, McGuire was re-arrested “on suspicion of several felonies, including attempted murder, using an explosive device in attempting to kill someone and possession of explosive devices.”
Those are some real criminal charges as compared to the one he started with.
Held without bail
There’s no way McGuire is going to be released ahead of trial. He’s being held without bail and not getting out unless he blasts his way out.
Since he seems to know some chemistry, it would probably be a good idea not to let him work in the kitchen or laundry for that reason. Because authorities frown on bombing the courthouse, he may end up facing more criminal charges at the federal level.
It’s not clear if he has a lawyer yet but McGuire is going to need one. His initial criminal charge didn’t involve anyone but himself. This time, he has victims. “Six people were being treated at Marian Regional Medical Center.” Hospital spokesperson Sandy Doucette relates that “several have burns.”
Three of their patients are listed in “fair” condition which means they’re going to be in some discomfort for quite a while. “We are providing them with the highest level of care and support.” The other three are listed as “good” and can recover at home.
McGuire was well prepared for the bombing, “wearing body armor under his jacket.” Security didn’t notice that, either. Apparently, the bomb wasn’t a typical sort of device. Something constructed in such a way as not to raise red flags in the x-ray scanner. “Officials did not elaborate on the contents of the bag.”
Under-sheriff Bonner explained that “McGuire was arrested in July on suspicion of a firearms violation, during which deputies seized a loaded and concealed revolver that was in his pocket and was not registered.” The criminal charge wasn’t serious enough to justify what happened. “We do believe this could be a local incident, committed by a local individual, with a local grievance stemming from his arrest,” Bonner assures the public. “We are not ruling out that there is not something larger at play, but at this time, we do believe that this is a local matter that has been safely resolved and that there are no outstanding community safety concerns.“
