6 injured after bomb explodes at Santa Maria courthouse
Update, 6 p.m.:
Law enforcement shared further details of the bombing incident at the Santa Maria Superior Court complex on Wednesday, including the name of the suspect arrested.
For further information, read our latest story here: Suspect identified in Santa Maria courthouse bombing as Sheriff’s Office shares new details
Original story:
Six people were injured after a bomb reportedly exploded inside the Santa Maria Superior Court Wednesday. The suspect has been detained.
According to the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, the explosion was reported at 8:48 a.m. The Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as an adult man and said the scene remains active.
The Sheriff’s Office asked people to avoid the area since it was not considered safe.
“We have two reports of non-life-threatening injuries,” spokesperson Raquel Zick said soon after the incident. Marian Regional Medical Center later confirmed six patients from the explosion incident were taken to its Santa Maria emergency department on Wednesday.
“Three are in fair condition and three are in good condition. We are providing them with the highest level of care and support,” spokesperson Joe Bailey said in a statement.
The explosion was “from an intentionally set improvised explosive device,” Zick said.
A suspect was in custody as of 9 a.m. and was seen being transferred from the back of a Santa Maria Police car to a Sheriff’s Office car. Zick said the investigation is “slow moving” but that detectives do not think there are any outstanding suspects.
The bomb squad was processing the scene, and the suspect was still being interviewed as of 12:30 p.m., she said.
The suspect was inside the court building and threw a bag in front of Department 9, which is the arraignment courtroom, Superior Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker told Noozhawk.
Whatever was in the bag, it went off, he said.
Emergency vehicles were staged at 312 E. Cook St., blocking the courthouse parking lot and a portion of Miller Street between Central and Cook streets.
Police tape was stretched around the perimeter of the scene, and authorities evacuated portions of the court buildings.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies, Santa Maria Police, California Highway Patrol officers, county firefighters and American Medical Response ambulances responded to the incident.
Parker said the Superior Court is still figuring out how to handle court appointments for Wednesday, including arraignments and trials. Attorneys and defendants were showing up to court Wednesday morning to find the area taped off.
Midday Wednesday, a message posted to the court website said, “The SANTA MARIA campus is closed for the day and all calendars have been canceled. Please contact the clerk’s office tomorrow to reschedule your matter.”
As a precaution, the city of Santa Maria decided to close City Hall, the Finance Department, City Attorney’s Office, Santa Maria Public Library, and Recreation and Parks Department for the day Wednesday, spokesman Mark van de Kamp said.
Room at Santa Maria courthouse previously vandalized
The court building attracted international attention nearly two decades ago when it housed the Michael Jackson criminal trial in 2005.
In February 2023, a man broke into the closed criminal court building on a Saturday night after receiving a letter to appear for a case for a date several weeks away.
The Nipomo man broke the two glass doors at the entrance to the criminal court building and then forcefully entered the Department 8 courtroom breaking the wood frames.
He then allegedly started a fire on the defense counsel’s chair, which spread to the table and carpet. The fire burned hot enough to melt the lights in the ceiling causing the sprinklers to activate.
The flooded courtroom required significant repairs before it could be used again.
Local courthouses, elected representatives respond to Santa Maria bombing
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Commander Keith Scott, who is in charge of the courthouse security in SLO, said that the incident in Santa Maria appears to be isolated and that there has been no threat to any of SLO County’s courthouses.
“The appropriate response for San Luis Obispo Superior Court security based on the incident in Santa Maria is to be on higher alert for public safety in each courthouse in the county,” he said.
Security at the San Luis Obispo Courthouse increased this past January, with a requirement to remove all electronics from bags before going through an X-ray machine. Weapons, including pocket knives and pepper spray, tools, lighters, chains and sports equipment like golf clubs and baseball bats are not allowed in the building.
In addition to the entrance security, the courthouse has security personnel monitoring the inside of the building.
U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, said in a social media post he and his team are monitoring the incident and are in touch with local law enforcement.
“As we await more information, please join me in sending your thoughts to those injured and thanking our first responders on the scene,” he said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a social media post that his office and the California Office of emergency services are also monitoring the explosion in Santa Maria.
Noozhawk North County Editor Janene Scully reported from the scene.
This story was originally published September 25, 2024 at 10:00 AM with the headline "6 injured after bomb explodes at Santa Maria courthouse."
