Santa Maria Courthouse bomber charged with attempted murder

October 1, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

The 20-year-old man who set off a bomb injuring five people at the Santa Maria Courthouse is facing 10 additional charges including attempted murder, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

Nathaniel McGuire went to the courthouse on the morning of Sept. 25 intending to murder the deputies working at the security desk near Department 9 and a judge. He tossed a bag containing a bomb at the security desk while yelling “Liberty or Death,” before heading to his car to grab a gun with plans to shoot the judge.

Federal prosecutors charged McGuire on Sept. 26 with malicious damage to a building by means of an explosive. If convicted, McGuire faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years on the federal charge.

Nathaniel McGuire

On Oct. 1, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed 10 charges against McGuire, including two counts of attempted murder, use of an explosive device with the intent to murder, use of an explosive device for purposes of terrorizing, use of an explosive device causing injury, multiple counts of arson with use of an accelerant, and possession of loaded firearms.

McGuire was scheduled to appear in Department 9 on the day of the bombing for an arraignment on charges of possession of a loaded and concealed revolver that was not registered to him.

Investigators also suspect McGuire started several fires in the Santa Maria area in preparation for his attack on the courthouse.

McGuire is currently being held without bail in a federal jail in Los Angeles. The district attorney’s complaint will remain pending until any federal charges are adjudicated and McGuire is transported back to Santa Barbara County to face the 10 additional charges.

Because we believe the public needs the facts, the truth, CalCoastNews has not put up a paywall because it limits readership. However, we are seeking qualification as a paper of record, which will allow us to publish public notices, but it requires 5,000 paid subscribers.

Your subscription will help us to continue investigating and reporting the news.

Support CalCoastNews, subscribe today, click here.

 


Loading...
2 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

People who plant bombs are the worst kind of yellow-belliied cowards. Unfortunate that the bomb didn’t explode while he was making it.


Well, with any luck at all, this dude will never get out. I can only imagine what would be the toll if he had gone in with an AK or the like. These entitled, disaffected, violent young white guys are an issue in this country not seen in others. School shootings, for instance happen at a rate of 4 – 0 in all other developed countries. In the US, we average 280 per year. And guess who does them. It is the #1 cause of death for children in this country. Let that sink in.


They are a definite factor driving up the native-born citizen’s rate of crime to 3X that of migrants (according to the FBI and local law enforcement statistics). The migrants are grateful to be here, for a chance to work in relative peace, to belong to a community and contribute. The white boys think they are superior and entitled to whatever they want.


Go ahead, vote me down for saying that. Then take another good look at the picture up there and ask yourself why he thinks he should be blowing people up for not getting his way. What were his unfulfilled expectations? This happens far too often, the profile being the same, for it to be coincidence. And just what was the dialog at home that helped to create such an attitude? This very American problem did not evolve in a vacuum.


If you doubt what I have stated, please FACT CHECK ME.