A man from Sacramento, identified as Anibal Hernandez Santana, 64, is accused of opening fire at the offices of a local ABC affiliate during a bold drive-by shooting. Authorities reported on Monday that his vehicle contained handwritten notes expressing his disdain for President Trump and a peculiar calendar reminder to “do the next scary thing.”
The calendar entry, noted for September 19, coincided with the day Hernandez Santana allegedly shot three bullets into the lobby window of ABC10’s headquarters, as announced by prosecutors.
During the search of his car, investigators discovered a book critical of Trump, accompanied by a handwritten note stating “For hiding Epstein and ignoring red flags,” Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho disclosed.
This note also referenced prominent individuals like FBI Director Kash Patel, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, issuing threats that they would be “next,” Ho indicated.
On Friday, Hernandez Santana was taken into custody on several state charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied building, and negligent discharge of a firearm.
He was released a few hours later on $200,000 bail, only to be rearrested by the FBI the following day.
Additionally, Hernandez Santana is set to face federal charges related to interfering with a federally authorized station and discharging a firearm within a school zone, as per authorities’ announcements.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that the crime may have been politically motivated, with Ho stating that “it appears he was also considering other targets, other individuals.”
Prosecutors have not confirmed any correlation between the shooting and ABC’s decision to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel due to his controversial remarks regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The day prior, numerous protesters gathered outside the station in support of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Fortunately, when Hernandez Santana allegedly discharged his weapon just after 1:30 p.m. on Friday, no protesters were present outside, according to the Sacramento County Police Department.
Authorities reported that Hernandez Santana first fired a round into the air towards the station before moving in front and firing three shots directly into the lobby while one employee was present.
No injuries were reported from the incident, said police officials.
Previously, following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show,” Hernandez Santana expressed his frustrations online, claiming that “the authoritarian oligarchy is now complete” and urged others to “fight like hell.”
As a former health policy analyst for the California Indian Health Board, Hernandez Santana appeared to have made alarming posts on social media the day before the shooting, seemingly wishing for Trump’s demise, as reported by Variety.
“Where is a good heart attack when we need it the most??” the post read.
Reichel, his defense attorney, stated that Hernandez Santana intends to enter a not guilty plea for both the state and federal charges. His arraignment on federal charges was set for Monday afternoon.
Reichel expressed concerns that the federal government might exploit Hernandez Santana’s case to incite political unrest. “I firmly believe that the Trump administration and his Department of Justice take issue with my client’s political expressions on social media, and they will seize any chance to elevate a state crime committed by someone labeled as ‘liberal’ to a federal offense, using it as political ammunition to demonize those who oppose the President’s views,” Reichel wrote in an email to the Associated Press.
The district attorney’s office is pursuing efforts to hold Hernandez Santana without bail.
With contributions from Post wires
