‘They’re next’: ABC10 shooting suspect faces new federal charges; ominous note found in car
Federal prosecutors have added new charges against the man accused of shooting into the lobby of ABC10 Sacramento and said a note was found in his car that used the phrase "they're next" in referring to Trump administration officials.Anibal Hernandez-Santana, a 64-year-old California lawyer and retired lobbyist, has now been charged with possession of a firearm within a school zone and discharge of a firearm within a school zone, in addition to interference with a radio communication station, according to an amended criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. (Video above: Suspect's lawyer speaks out.)The complaint shed new light on why investigators believe Hernandez-Santana is responsible for Friday’s shooting at ABC10 and reveals that a note referencing members of the Trump administration was found in his car after his initial release on bail on Saturday. | RELATED | Read the amended criminal complaint hereAccording to the court documents, Sacramento police who executed the search warrant found a handwritten note that read, “For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondie. They’re next. – C.K. from above.”Court documents outline a timeline of the shooting and investigation that follow, saying that before firing three rounds in the front of the ABC10 station Friday at 1:34 p.m., he allegedly fired a single round two minutes earlier while standing on the sidewalk in front of 2555 3rd Street. The court documents describe the area as located adjacent to the rear parking lot and about 300 feet to the southwest corner of ABC10. The criminal complaint says that video surveillance showed the suspect wearing a “gray t-shirt, dark colored pants, gray and white shoes, and a dark colored satchel worn around his torso.”The complaint alleges that the shooting interfered with ABC10’s radio communications because employees sheltered in place and the shooting led to the cancellation of a planned news conference. A witness at the shooting scene produced officers with a spent 9mm casing and another witness provided a description of the suspect’s vehicle. Crime scene investigators found a spent projectile from a doorway in the building’s lobby. After DMV records linked the suspect’s Nissan vehicle to a residence on Carlson Drive in River Park, Hernandez-Santana was taken into custody as he exited his apartment. Detectives who executed a search warrant in his apartment “located a dark colored satchel that appeared consistent with the satchel that was worn by the suspect as previously observed on video surveillance,” the court documents said. Inside the satchel, they found a Sub Compact 9mm machine gun with the same caliber as the bullet and casing found at the shooting scene. The handgun was inside a holster with an empty magazine, according to the court documents. Hernandez-Santana’s hands also tested presumptive positive for gunshot residue, according to the complaint. The court documents say detectives also found a whiteboard planner on Santana- Hernandez’s refrigerator with a handwritten note under “Friday” that said, “Do the Next Scary Thing.” He was booked based on that information, according to the complaint. The court documents go on to say that after Hernandez-Santana was released on bail Saturday at 1:50 p.m., law enforcement executed a search of his vehicle. That’s where they found the note that referenced FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Hernandez-Santana was arrested later that evening.The first two federal charges related to firearms in a school zone carry sentences of up to five years imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000 and $10,000. The interference with a radio communications station charge carries a maximum of one year imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. In addition to the federal charges, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said it will be filing charges related to discharging a firearm into an inhabited building and assault with a semi-automatic firearm, along with personal use of a firearm allegation.If convicted of those charges, he would face a maximum sentence of 17 years in state prison.He is due to appear on those charges Monday at 3 p.m., an hour after his federal court appearance. Defense attorney Mark Reichel confirmed to KCRA 3 that he is representing Hernandez- Santana and said Sunday that his client was arrested by the FBI after he took a break from conferring with the attorney and going outside his apartment. Before the FBI released its new details and outlined the investigation, Reichel questioned the motives behind the federal arrest and what he described as a minor charge. He said he believed investigators were scrutinizing his client's social media activity, which was critical of the Trump administration."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," he said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
