A man accused of firing a gun into the offices of ABC10, an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, California, left behind notes criticizing former President Donald Trump’s administration and a calendar reminder to “do the next scary thing,” according to prosecutors.
No injuries were reported after the shooting on Friday at the television station’s lobby near downtown Sacramento. Local authorities arrested Anibal Hernandez Santana, 64, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and shooting into an occupied building. He was released hours later on $200,000 bail.
The FBI rearrested Hernandez Santana on Saturday night. He now faces federal charges for interfering with a federally licensed station and discharging a firearm within a school zone. His defense attorney, Mark Reichel, said Hernandez Santana intends to plead not guilty in both cases during his arraignment in federal court Monday afternoon and in state court Tuesday.
Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho stated that investigators found a calendar note dated September 19—the day of the shooting—on Hernandez Santana’s refrigerator reading: “Do the next scary thing.” Authorities searching his car discovered an anti-Trump book and a handwritten note that read: “For hiding Epstein and ignoring red flags.” The note also mentioned FBI Director Kash Patel, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, stating they were “next,” according to prosecutors.
Ho said evidence suggests political motivation for the crime and indicated that Hernandez Santana may have been considering other targets. However, Ho did not clarify why prosecutors believe ABC10 was targeted or whether it related to any recent events involving the network or its programming.
ABC10 is owned by Tegna and is affiliated with but not owned by ABC.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office statement, Hernandez Santana first fired into the air toward the TV station before driving to its front entrance and firing three shots into the lobby.
Bill Essayli, acting U.S. attorney in Southern California, criticized how quickly Hernandez Santana was released on bail before being taken into custody again by federal authorities. “Welcome to California, where someone can commit attempted murder and be back on the streets the same day,” Essayli posted Saturday on X.
Defense attorney Reichel suggested that federal officials would use this case as political leverage: “I am certain the Trump administration and his DOJ dislikes his political posts on social media, and they will take any opportunity to take a state crime committed by someone who is considered ‘liberal’ and make it a federal offense to use it as political fodder for their never ceasing attempts to demonize those who disagree with the President’s policies,” Reichel wrote in an email.
The district attorney announced plans to seek detention without bail for Hernandez Santana.
