Santa Maria man in custody after explosive injures visitors at Santa Maria Courthouse
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Nathaniel James McGuire from Santa Maria is in custody after detonating an explosive devise at the Santa Barbara County Superior Courthouse in Santa Maria and injuring five people Wednesday morning.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said McGuire was scheduled to appear before Judge John McGregor in Department 9 of the County's Superior Courthouse in Santa Maria Wednesday morning for an arraignment on a felony count of carrying a loaded handgun while not the registered owner.
McGuire was arrested on July 28 of this year on that firearm violation stated the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.
Shortly after 8:30 a.m. Adrian Arredondo from Santa Maria heard the explosion. The courthouse was evacuated shortly after according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff.
"We all heard the explosion!" said Arredondo.
McGuire entered the courthouse and threw a bag at the screening station at the courthouse according to Craig Bonner, Santa Barbara County Undersheriff.
"In my 31 years, this is the first time we've ever had somebody throw an explosive at the courthouse," said Bonner.
Five people were injured in the explosion according to Raquel Zick, the spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. Sandy Doucette with Dignity Health which operates Marian Regional Medical Center, said there were six people injured and that the last person showed up around 1:30 p.m.
Shortly after the explosion, McGuire ran to his red sedan in the southeast parking lot of the courthouse but he was quickly caught and dragged away by a court security officer.
Arredondo said McGuire had what looked like ammunition coming out of his pockets as he was being dragged.
"He had a lot of it," said Arredondo, "Who knows what this guy was going to do?"
The Sheriff's Office said McGuire was wearing body armor underneath his jacket at the time he was detained.
McGuire is currently being held without bail and was booked on charges including attempted murder, manufacturing, and using an explosive in an attempt to kill detailed the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. Boner said federal charges against McGuire have not been ruled out yet as the FBI continues their investigation.
Investigators are also looking to confirm if McGuire has been involved with recent arsons in the area.
"We are not absolutely ruling out that there is something larger at play but at this time we believe this is a local matter that has been safely resolved," said Bonner.
Santa Barbara County Fire Investigators searched his home in the 1000 block of Henry Street.
Miller and McClelland streets near the courthouse were closed from Cook Street to Central Avenue and the courthouse will remain closed through Thursday.
