A 63-year-old man, Anibal Hernandez Santana, was arrested for allegedly opening fire at an ABC affiliate’s TV station in Sacramento, California, on September 19. Prosecutors revealed that he had a handwritten note in his car that accused FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials of being ‘next,’ referencing the alleged cover-up of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. While no one was injured in the shooting, federal officials said people in the building had to shelter in place and pause operations.
Santana was charged with possession of a firearm within a school zone, discharge of a firearm within a school, and interference with a radio communications station. Law enforcement officials searched his car after he posted bail on Saturday afternoon, uncovering a handwritten note that read, ‘For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondi. They’re next. – C.K. from above.’ When police searched Santana’s home, they located a planner with a handwritten note under ‘Friday’ that stated, ‘Do the Next Scary Thing.’
Mark Reichel, Santana’s attorney, told Fox News Digital that the circumstances surrounding the case are ‘highly unusual.’ He noted that it is remarkably uncommon for an individual to face simultaneous state and federal charges for the same alleged conduct. ‘Given the highly unusual circumstances here, we understand the news media and the public have many questions, as do we. At this time, we have not had an opportunity to review the evidence in the case, so our ability to provide those answers is non-existent,’ Reichel said. ‘Mr. Hernandez Santana is entitled to due process — he is innocent unless and until he is found otherwise.’
FBI Director Kash Patel called the shooting ‘unacceptable’ in a post on X, stating that the suspect was taken into custody for the alleged shooting into ABC10’s Sacramento station lobby under a federal hold for interference with licensed broadcasts. ‘Targeted acts of violence are unacceptable and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law,’ Patel said.