California courthouse explosion blamed on man who failed to appear in court

Nathaniel McGuire, a 20-year-old man from Santa Maria, California, threw an explosive device into the Santa Maria courthouse where he was to be arraigned on Wednesday, injuring three people. None of the injuries were life-threatening, and McGuire was arrested as he tried to get into his car after the explosion. The FBI is assisting in the investigation. The motivation behind the attack seems to stem from a recent arrest on firearms violations on July 28, 2024. McGuire was wearing body armor when he was arrested and is being held without bail on charges of attempted murder, using an explosive device, and possession of an explosive device. The courthouse, surrounding homes, and a school were evacuated as the bomb squad checked for additional explosives. There is no further threat to the community, according to Santa Barbara County Undersheriff Craig Bonner. McGuire’s arraignment had been scheduled for Wednesday morning, but the incident occurred before he could appear in court. The case is under investigation, and it was mentioned that a personal grudge may have been the driving force behind the attack. Santa Maria is located about 150 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

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