On Friday, September 19, 2025, the normally quiet lobby of ABC10’s Sacramento headquarters was shattered by the sound of gunfire. At least three bullets struck the building’s windows in a drive-by shooting that, by sheer luck, left no one injured. The incident, which occurred around 1:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Broadway in the Upper Land Park neighborhood, has since sent ripples through the local media community and reignited conversations about the safety of journalists and the volatile intersection of politics and public discourse.
The suspect, identified as 64-year-old Anibal Hernandez Santana of Sacramento, was swiftly arrested by local police on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied building, and negligent discharge of a firearm, as reported by REUTERS and confirmed by the Sacramento Police Department. He was initially booked into Sacramento County Main Jail around midnight, with bail set at $200,000. But the story didn’t end there. After posting bond and being released on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Hernandez Santana was re-arrested just hours later by the FBI and placed on a federal hold, according to an FBI spokesperson cited by The Sacramento Bee.
Hernandez Santana now faces a complex legal battle, with scheduled court appearances in both federal and state courts—first in Sacramento federal court at 2 p.m. on Monday, September 22, and then in Sacramento Superior Court at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23. The federal charges stem from alleged violations of 47 USC 333, a statute prohibiting willful or malicious interference with radio communications licensed by the government. As the FBI clarified, “The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
As the investigation unfolds, one question looms large: what motivated the attack? Police have yet to publicly disclose a motive, stating only that it remains under active investigation. However, social media accounts believed to belong to Hernandez Santana offer some clues. According to The New York Post and The Sacramento Bee, these accounts are replete with political commentary, particularly criticism of former President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In one post dated April 9, the account stated, “President Trump’s brain is where democracy goes to die.” Another post, made on the morning of the shooting, decried Republican praise for Kirk, calling it “Blasphemy. can’t believe these Republicans sucking up to their own twisted show.”
Hernandez Santana’s background paints a portrait of a man deeply engaged in political and social issues. His Facebook profile indicates studies in regional and city planning at UC Berkeley and law at UC Law San Francisco. Professionally, he’s worked for organizations including the National Council of Urban Indian Health and the California Federation of Teachers, among others. Now retired, he describes himself as engaged in “full-time parenting.” Court records also show he filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in 2019, which was later withdrawn. Neighbors described him as a familiar, if unremarkable, presence. “I’m always seeing him, like, coming and going,” said Destini Rich to KCRA-TV. Another tenant, Emily Alves, remarked, “He was a nice guy. But then after hearing all this, we were just like, ‘What? What happened?’”
The shooting itself occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tension. Just one day prior, roughly 15 people had gathered outside ABC10 to protest the network’s decision to indefinitely suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The move by ABC, and its parent company Disney, came after host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial remarks regarding the shooting death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The controversy quickly snowballed, with other media companies like Nexstar and Sinclair also pulling Kimmel’s show from their ABC-affiliated stations, calling his comments “offensive, inappropriate and insensitive.” Sinclair even called for Kimmel to make a personal donation to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA, Kirk’s co-founded organization. Amid mounting pressure, ABC pre-empted Kimmel’s show across all its stations, including those owned by The E.W. Scripps Company.
Despite the proximity of the shooting to these protests, police have not drawn a direct connection between the two events. “The motive remains under investigation, and we would like to thank the FBI for providing resources in support of this investigation,” the Sacramento Police Department stated. Authorities have encouraged anyone with information to contact their dispatch center or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in resolving the case.
Inside ABC10, the atmosphere was one of shock and relief. Tegna, which owns the station, issued a statement confirming that all employees were safe and unharmed. “We can confirm that shots were fired into our station at KXTV earlier today. While details are still limited, importantly all of our employees are safe and unharmed. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and have taken additional measures to ensure the continued safety of our employees,” Tegna said. The company has since increased security at the station.
The incident drew swift condemnation from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who underscored the broader implications of violence against journalists. “While no injuries have been reported, any act of violence toward journalists is an attack on our democracy itself and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” his office posted on X. “We stand with reporters and staff who work every day to keep communities informed and safe!”
For residents of the apartment complex where Hernandez Santana was arrested, the ordeal was both surreal and unsettling. Local news broadcasts showed a heavy police presence, including a SWAT team, as officers closed in on the suspect’s home in Sacramento’s River Park neighborhood. One witness, Angela, told KCRA-TV, “We made eye contact,” recalling how officers ordered, “Get down on the ground or we’re going to shoot.”
As the investigation continues, Sacramento’s media community is left grappling with the aftermath of an attack that could have easily turned tragic. The shooting has reignited debates about press freedom, political polarization, and the safety of those tasked with keeping the public informed. With both state and federal charges pending, and a motive still unclear, the coming weeks will likely bring more answers—and perhaps a few more questions—about what drove a retired city planner to open fire on a local newsroom.
For now, the city breathes a cautious sigh of relief, grateful that a potentially deadly incident ended without loss of life, but acutely aware of the dangers that still linger at the intersection of politics, media, and public safety.
