SACRAMENTO, CA — The suspect in Friday’s drive-by shooting at Sacramento’s ABC affiliate, Aníbal Hernández Santana, is now in federal custody and facing charges of interfering with licensed broadcasts. Investigators said a note found in his vehicle listed several Trump administration figures and suggested he may have been motivated by the network’s suspension of talk show host Jimmy Kimmel — though no direct evidence links it to an operational plot.
Note Found in Car Mentions Patel, Bondi, Bongino
Federal officials say Hernández Santana left behind handwritten notes in his vehicle. One of them read:
“Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondi. They’re next – C.K. from above.”
The note also referenced “hiding Epstein” and “ignoring red flags,” echoing talking points common in conspiracy forums.
According to Sean James from Mediaite:
The note comes after Variety reported over the weekend that Hernandez-Santana’s X account contained “a steady stream of anti-Trump commentary.
“Where is a good heart attack when we need it the most?? Please Join in my thoughts and prayers for the physical demise of our fearful leader,” Hernandez-Santana posted last Thursday.
And in July, Variety found posts where he said he is ready to “fight like hell” to oppose the Trump administration.
Investigators have not confirmed any active plan or capability to target FBI Director Kash Patel, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, or U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, authorities are still assessing whether the message was aspirational or actionable:
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Hernandez Santana faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possessing and discharging a firearm within a school zone, and a maximum of one year in prison and a $10,000 fine for interfering with a radio communication station. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
FBI: “Targeted Acts of Violence Are Unacceptable”
FBI Director Kash Patel posted Monday morning on X, confirming that Hernández Santana was taken into federal custody after initially being released on $200,000 bail by local authorities Saturday morning — less than 24 hours after the shooting.
“Targeted acts of violence are unacceptable and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
Attorney Claims Political Bias in Scrutiny
Mark Reichel, the suspect’s attorney, told local outlet KCRA 3 that his client is being disproportionately targeted because of political opinions, particularly “anti-Trump posts” on social media. Reichel did not comment on the contents of the note found in his client’s car.
“If you look at his social media, they’re going to say, ‘Boy, it sure shows that he’s liberal and left wing.’ So you think they’re going to overlook something like that? I don’t think so,” Reichel claimed.
No Reported Injuries, Motive Under Investigation
No injuries were reported in the Friday shooting, which targeted the building housing ABC10 News in Sacramento. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts indicate that Hernández Santana opened fire on the building from a vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Federal prosecutors are expected to release additional details at an upcoming arraignment.
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From Erika Kirk: The torch Charlie lit still burns — now it’s in our hands. [STAND WITH US TODAY]
Liberals are issuing dog whistles to their unstable followers and violence is what occurs.