ABC Sacramento Station Shooting Suspect Faces Federal Charges as Police Find Politically Charged Note About Epstein

Anibal Hernandez Santana, accused of shooting at Sacramento’s ABC affiliate, ABC10, on Friday, Sept. 19, is now facing federal charges.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, Hernandez Santana fired one shot toward the station and three shots into the building that day.

Witnesses say he initially stood on the sidewalk around the block from the station at 2555 3rd Street and fired a shot into the air toward the station. Notably, this location was within a school zone.

He then drove to the front of the station and fired three shots directly into the building’s lobby. An ABC10 employee was inside at the time, but thankfully no one was injured.

The shooting happened just one day after protesters gathered outside ABC10 to object to ABC’s decision to “indefinitely” pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!. While the show officially returns on Tuesday, Sept. 23, it will not air on Sinclair stations. It is unclear whether the two incidents are connected.

Hernandez Santana was first arrested by the Sacramento Police Department on multiple state charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied building, and negligent discharge of a firearm, according to FOX 40 News. After being released on $200,000 bail on Saturday, Sept. 20, he was arrested again that same day by the FBI and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail. He is currently ineligible for bail.

According to KCRA, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Hernandez Santana’s vehicle and discovered a note referencing FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The note read: “For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondi. They’re next. – C.K. from above,” per the press release.

Authorities also searched Hernandez Santana’s person and home. A weekly planner on his refrigerator had a handwritten note under “Friday” that stated, “Do the Next Scary Thing.”

A three-count amended criminal complaint charges Hernandez Santana with possessing a firearm within a school zone, discharging a firearm within a school zone, and interfering with a radio communication station.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the school zone firearm offenses, and up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine for interfering with a radio communication station.

“It is remarkably uncommon for any individual to face simultaneous state and federal charges for the same alleged conduct,” said Mark Reichel, Hernandez Santana’s attorney, in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

“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. Mr. Hernandez Santana is entitled to due process — he is innocent unless and until he is found otherwise.”