Santa Maria Man Charged in Courthouse Bombing

Nathaniel James McGuire, a 20-year-old from Santa Maria, California, faces ten charges, including two counts of attempted murder, following an explosion at the Santa Maria Courthouse on September 25 that injured at least five individuals. McGuire allegedly threw an improvised explosive device into the courthouse lobby while being out on bail for a previous firearms-related charge. Law enforcement apprehended him as he attempted to flee with loaded firearms and additional explosives in his vehicle. The District Attorney's Office has also accused him of multiple counts of arson in connection with fires set in the Santa Maria area leading up to the bombing. Federal prosecutors previously charged him with maliciously damaging a building by means of explosive, and he is currently being held without bail. The ongoing legal proceedings will address both state and federal charges against McGuire.