A single burst of gunfire shattered the glass facade of Sacramento’s ABC affiliate, turning a routine Friday afternoon into a stark reminder of how heated words can ignite real-world violence. Authorities have identified 64-year-old Anibal Hernandez-Santana as the man arrested in connection with the drive-by shooting at ABC10’s Broadway headquarters. The incident unfolded around 1:30 p.m. on September 19, when three bullets pierced the lobby window of the occupied building, though fortunately, no one inside was hurt.
Police quickly traced a suspect vehicle to a home in the River Park neighborhood, where SWAT teams moved in early the next morning and took Hernandez-Santana into custody after a witness saw him tackled on the spot. Hernandez-Santana, a former legislative director for the California Federation of Teachers, now faces serious charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, negligent discharge of a firearm, and shooting at an occupied structure. Court records show his bail at $200,000, with an arraignment for Tuesday afternoon. Check the Sacramento County Superior Court calendar for the latest on local court proceedings.
The timing of the attack raises eyebrows, coming just one day after a small group of protesters rallied outside the station to decry ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! Indefinitely. That move followed Kimmel’s pointed on-air remarks about the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a Utah college earlier in the month. While officials have not yet pinned a clear motive to Hernandez-Santana, his social media trail paints a picture of deep frustration with political figures and institutions, including a string of sharp critiques aimed at former President Trump.
Sacramento police, with help from the FBI, continue to sift through evidence to determine if the station was the intended target or if broader tensions played a role. Station owner Tegna has reaffirmed its commitment to staff safety and is working closely with investigators.
Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in swiftly, calling the episode an assault on journalism and urging calm amid the national divide over free speech.
