A California man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly firing multiple rounds into the lobby of ABC affiliate ABC10, the day after protests over the network’s indefinite suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Authorities have not confirmed a direct motive, but the incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of media personnel amid politically charged tensions.
Sacramento police identified the suspect as 64-year-old Anibal Hernandez Santana.
Investigators reported that the drive-by attack struck ABC10’s Broadway lobby shortly after 1:30 p.m. local time on Friday, shattering windows at least three times while the building was occupied.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Officers tracked Hernandez Santana’s vehicle to a residence in the River Park neighborhood and arrested him later that evening, according to The Post Millennial.
Hernandez Santana was initially booked on state charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied building and negligent discharge of a firearm.
Bail was set at $200,000, which he posted before federal authorities intervened.
The FBI arrested him on Saturday for allegedly interfering with government-licensed broadcast communications.
He remains in federal custody and is ineligible for release, with court appearances scheduled in both federal and state courts, the New York Post reports.
Authorities have not confirmed a motive, though Hernandez Santana’s social media accounts reportedly contained repeated anti-Trump posts, including one reading, “Rules don’t apply if election was stolen. FIGHT!”
Investigators are also examining whether the shooting is connected to protests outside ABC10 the previous day, organized in response to Kimmel’s suspension following his controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Police confirmed no demonstrations were occurring at the time of the attack.
Tegna, ABC10’s parent company, confirmed that all employees were unharmed and said additional security measures were implemented.
“Shots were fired into our station, but all employees are safe and unharmed,” the company stated, emphasizing full cooperation with law enforcement.
Tegna also noted that security protocols at affiliate stations nationwide have been reviewed in light of the incident.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) condemned the attack as “an act of violence toward journalists,” calling it “an attack on our democracy itself” and emphasizing the threats faced by media employees amid increasingly hostile political rhetoric.
Eyewitness accounts described a tense law enforcement response.
SWAT teams secured the area around Hernandez Santana’s apartment, while neighbors expressed shock.
One resident said, “I’m always seeing him coming and going,” adding that Hernandez Santana had previously appeared quiet and unassuming.
Another reported that officers repeatedly warned the suspect to comply before his arrest.
The shooting occurred as conservatives have raised alarms about extreme political rhetoric from liberal media figures and politicians, warning that inflammatory speech can escalate into real-world threats.
Federal and local authorities continue to investigate whether the attack was targeted or random and whether the weapon has been recovered.
Law enforcement is examining all potential links between Hernandez Santana, the protests and Kimmel’s comments to determine the full scope and motive behind the attack, underscoring the risks posed when political tensions spill into violent actions.
