The man accused of shooting at an ABC affiliate in Sacramento last week may have been motivated in part by that network’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, authorities said Monday.
There’s “circumstantial evidence” that Anibal Hernandez Santana, 64, had “a political motive behind” the shooting Friday, Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho said.
“So there are some indications here that the motive behind the shooting of the ABC news station was political in kind,” he said.
“We’re still looking at investigating the case, but he chose a very particular target, and with the notes that he left behind and the target in place and the recent dismissal of the Jimmy Kimmel show, I think there’s circumstantial evidence there to show that this was politically motivated crime by this individual.”
In a statement, an attorney for Hernandez Santana said he had not yet reviewed the evidence in the case and his client is entitled to due process.
“He is innocent unless and until he is found otherwise,” said the lawyer, Mark Reichel.
Hernandez Santana was expected to be arraigned and enter a plea Monday on firearms and assault charges, but the hearing was postponed after he made an appearance on separate federal charges of possessing and firing a gun near a school and interference with radio communications.
Hernandez was ordered temporarily detained after those proceedings. A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Reichel said it was “remarkably uncommon” for someone to face simultaneous charges for the same conduct in state and federal court.
Kimmel had been taken off the air because of his comments about the slain conservative provocateur Charlie Kirk. Following intense pressure on ABC and parent company Disney, Kimmel will return Tuesday.
Hernandez Santana, a former lobbyist, was accused of firing into the building that houses KXTV, ABC’s Sacramento affiliate.
Video and images from the scene show bullet holes in a window. No one was injured.
A search of the suspect’s car unearthed writings about his displeasure with President Donald Trump and other federal officials, according to a federal criminal complaint.
A handwritten note specifically said: “For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondie. They’re next,” according to the complaint.
The writing appears to refer to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Trump has been dogged by his possible ties to Epstein, with lawmakers pressuring the White House to be more transparent with case files on the late, disgraced financier.
Disney’s ABC last week pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air “indefinitely” after Kimmel’s comments about the possible motive of the man charged in connection with the slaying of Kirk on Sept. 10.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, suggested the FCC might “take action” against ABC over Kimmel’s remarks.
“The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said last week.
Lindsay Good, Irene Byon, Tim Stelloh and Andrew Blankstein contributed.
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