Anibal Hernandez Santana charged after ABC10 Sacramento shooting; planner note said 'Do the Next Scary Thing'
Anibal Hernandez Santana, 64, was arrested early Saturday after a drive‑by shooting at ABC10’s Sacramento building in which at least three rounds struck a lobby window but caused no injuries; surveillance tied him to a white Nissan Kicks and police recovered a subcompact 9mm in a satchel matching casings at the scene. He was booked on state felony counts — including shooting into an occupied building, assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge — and faces federal charges for possession and discharge of a firearm within a school zone and interference with a radio communications station; investigators also found a planner entry reading “Do the Next Scary Thing” and a handwritten note in his car referencing Epstein and warning certain officials were “next.”
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📰 Sources (5)
Who is Anibal Hernandez Santana, accused in ABC station shooting and note saying Trump officials are 'next'
New information:
- Federal complaint lists specific charges: possession of a firearm within a school zone, discharge of a firearm within a school zone, and interference with a radio communications station.
- Surveillance tied the suspect to a white Nissan Kicks and showed him wearing a dark satchel; detectives recovered a Sub Compact 9mm handgun in that satchel matching casings at the scene and an empty magazine.
- Complaint documents an earlier Sept. 16 approach to an elementary school where Santana asked to 'read to the children' and left a note saying he wanted to read to students; school employees described him as 'weird' and 'anxious.'
- Investigators found a planner at the apartment with a handwritten entry under 'Friday' that read 'Do the Next Scary Thing.'
- Specific distance from a nearby high school recorded in the complaint: the shooting occurred 834 feet from a local high school.
Man accused of firing at ABC station wrote note ‘for hiding Epstein,’ warned Trump officials ‘next’: Officials
New information:
- Police say a handwritten note found in the suspect’s car read: “For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondi. They’re next. – C.K. from above.”
- Court documents say a planner at the suspect’s home included the line “Do the Next Scary Thing” under Friday.
- After posting state bail, the suspect was taken into FBI custody under a federal hold for interference with licensed broadcasts, per FBI Director Kash Patel.
- Listed charges include possession and discharge of a firearm within a school zone and interference with a radio communications station.
- Officials said ABC10 staff sheltered in place and paused some operations after the shots were fired; no injuries reported.
Man arrested after drive-by shooting at ABC TV station in Sacramento
New information:
- Suspect identified as Anibal Hernandezsantana, 64, arrested early Saturday.
- Felony charges: shooting into an occupied building, assault with a deadly weapon, and negligent discharge of a firearm.
- Booked into Sacramento County Main Jail with $200,000 bail.
- Court appearance scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. local time.
- SPD says motive is under investigation; at least three rounds struck the lobby window and the vehicle fled.
- TEGNA says staff are safe and security has been increased; journalists’ groups condemned the attack.
Gunfire erupts outside California news station as employees work inside building
New information:
- The day before the shooting, roughly 15 people protested outside ABC10 over ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel, per the Sacramento Bee; police have not identified a motive.
- Fox’s local affiliate reported the shots were fired from a vehicle that sped away (drive-by), with a reporter posting video showing at least three bullet holes in a station window.
- As a precaution, there will be extra police patrols near ABC7 in San Francisco following the Sacramento incident, according to FOX San Francisco.
- Corporate context: ABC10 is owned by Tegna, which Nexstar says it is in the process of acquiring for $6.2 billion.
Sacramento ABC TV station building struck by gunfire, police say
New information:
- Time and place: ~1:30 p.m. Friday, 400 block of Broadway, Sacramento
- At least three rounds hit a window facing Broadway; no injuries
- Police classify it as a drive-by shooting; suspect and motive unknown
- Quotes: SPD PIO Anthony Gamble called it “unacceptable”; Tegna and Newsom’s office issued statements