Law enforcement have charged Anibal Hernandez Santana, 63, following an alleged shooting at an ABC affiliate’s TV station in Sacramento, California, on September 19. Federal prosecutors claim Santana used a Sub Compact 9mm handgun to open fire into the KXTV/ABC 10 building, forcing the station to cancel coverage of a planned news conference. The incident occurred 834 feet from a local high school and near an elementary school, leading to additional charges, as the location was deemed a school zone.
Surveillance video identified the car Santana was driving as a white Nissan Kicks. At the time of the shooting, prosecutors said Santana was ‘wearing a gray T-shirt, dark-colored pants, gray and white shoes and a dark-colored satchel worn around his torso.’
Three days before the alleged shooting on September 16, federal prosecutors allege that Santana walked to a nearby elementary school ‘unannounced’ dressed in military-looking pants, an army cap, and dark sunglasses. He allegedly asked if he could ‘read to the children,’ which was denied, and left a note that read ‘I would like to read to young students in my spare time.’ The employee described him as ‘weird’ and ‘anxious.’
At the apartment, detectives found a ‘dark colored satchel’ consistent with the one seen on surveillance video, along with the Sub Compact 9mm handgun and an empty magazine. A planner found in the apartment also showed a note under ‘Friday’ stating ‘Do the Next Scary Thing.’ The note inside his car referenced Jeffrey Epstein and warned that certain Trump officials are ‘next.’
Santana was arrested at his apartment and booked into jail, but was later re-arrested. His attorney, Mark Reichel, claimed the case reflects political bias due to his left-wing social media activity and criticism of the Trump administration. He stated that the government is looking for evidence of political violence and that the circumstances are ‘highly unusual’ for an individual to face simultaneous state and federal charges for the same alleged conduct.
The note found inside Santana’s car referenced Jeffrey Epstein and stated that officials within the Trump administration are ‘next.’ The note read: ‘For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondi. They’re next. – C.K. from above.’ Prosecutors have not yet commented on the implications of the note, but its contents suggest a potential linkage to broader conspiracy theories or political motivations.
Reichel argued that the prosecution’s focus on Santana’s left-wing social media activity, combined with his criticism of the Trump administration, was indicative of a politically motivated case. He emphasized that the circumstances of the case were ‘highly unusual’ and that his client is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement and legal experts are monitoring the case closely, with potential implications for how political dissent is perceived and prosecuted in the United States. The broader implications of the case may extend beyond Santana’s individual circumstances, prompting discussions about the intersection of political activism, law enforcement, and the legal system.