Shooting at ABC10 Offices in Sacramento
A shocking incident unfolded in Sacramento when a man opened fire on the offices of ABC10, a local television station. The suspect has been identified as 64-year-old Anibal Hernandez-Santana. He is accused of firing several shots into the station’s lobby around 1 p.m. last Friday.
Thankfully, no one was hurt in the attack. However, employees were inside the building at the time, and the situation could have been far worse. Prosecutors said Hernandez-Santana fired four times, once outside the building and three times directly at the glass window of the lobby.
The Sacramento District Attorney, Thien Ho, said the attack was not random. He explained that it appeared to be politically motivated. Police later confirmed that Hernandez-Santana was arrested the same day and taken into custody without further violence. He now faces multiple federal and state charges, including weapons offenses, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and assault with a firearm.
According to court records, prosecutors are seeking to deny him bail. They warned that the evidence found in his car suggested he might have been planning other acts of violence. If convicted, Hernandez-Santana could face five years in federal prison along with an additional 17 years under state charges.
Note Refers to Epstein and Trump Officials
The most disturbing discovery came during the search of Hernandez-Santana’s car. Detectives found a handwritten note that mentioned Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who was charged with trafficking young girls to wealthy and powerful men before his death in 2019. The note accused government officials of “hiding Epstein and ignoring red flags.”
The message went on to list several former Trump administration figures. Among those named were FBI Director Kash Patel, his deputy Dan Bongino, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The note included a chilling warning: “They’re next. — C.K. from above.”
District Attorney Ho said the initials “C.K.” were likely a reference to Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was shot and killed by a sniper in Utah earlier this month. The link between the initials and Kirk added another layer of political tension to the case.
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In addition to the note, officers discovered a day planner inside the car. On the date of the shooting, Hernandez-Santana had written the words: “Do the Next Scary Thing.” Prosecutors argued that this showed he was intentionally planning violent actions.
A book titled The Cult of Trump was also found inside his vehicle. This detail suggested to investigators that his actions may have been influenced by his political views and current events.
Kash Patel, one of the officials named in the note, responded publicly. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Patel said that “targeted acts of violence are unacceptable and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.” A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento said she could not comment further beyond what was written in the official court filings.
Political Context and Ongoing Tensions
Authorities described Hernandez-Santana as a retired lobbyist who had worked with several groups in California. His clients in the past included an environmental justice organization, the California Catholic Conference, and the California Federation of Teachers. He first registered as a lobbyist in 2001.
Voting records showed that Hernandez-Santana was born in Puerto Rico and was not registered with either the Republican or Democratic parties. Prosecutors also noted that he had no significant criminal history and was not known to local law enforcement before the shooting.
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The timing of the attack also raised questions. On the day of the shooting, a protest had been scheduled outside ABC10. The protest was linked to the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel had been temporarily suspended by the parent company of ABC10 after making remarks about Republican responses to the killing of Charlie Kirk. His suspension was lifted on Monday, and he was expected to return to the air the following day.
District Attorney Ho stressed that the TV station was not randomly chosen. He described the shooting as an attack not only on the employees inside but also on the media and the wider community. “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.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Hernandez-Santana is set to face court proceedings in both federal and state cases. Prosecutors continue to argue that the notes and materials found in his possession point to a clear and politically motivated attack tied to broader national controversies.
