The man who allegedly threw a bomb inside a California courthouse this week, injuring five people, said he was angry that his firearms were taken away from him, authorities said.
The Department of Justice announced Friday that Nathaniel James McGuire, 20, of Santa Maria, was charged with maliciously damaging a building using an explosive device.
He was scheduled to appear in Los Angeles federal court on Friday.
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Nathaniel McGuire was indicted Wednesday on federal charges for allegedly throwing an explosive device into a courthouse in Santa Barbara County, California. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)
“This defendant will now stand trial in federal court for an assault that injured at least five people and terrorized our county courthouse and entire community,” said U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland.
Federal prosecutors said McGuire entered the lobby of the Santa Maria courthouse on Wednesday and threw a bag containing a bomb, which exploded. After the explosion, he fled on foot.
Five people were injured.
Authorities said McGuire was arrested shortly after he tried to get into a Ford Mustang that was parked outside the building. According to the Justice Department, the man allegedly shouted, “The government has taken away our guns and we all need to fight, stand up and rebel.”
Police said McGuire's motive stemmed from a previous arrest for possession of an unregistered firearm. He was scheduled to appear in court on the morning of the incident.
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Santa Barbara sheriff's deputies allegedly found boxes of ammunition, smoke bombs and fireworks inside McGuire's car. Prosecutors said they found a shotgun, a rifle, additional ammunition, what appeared to be bombs and 10 Molotov cocktails inside.
Law enforcement later made the bomb safe.
Antabarbara police arrested Nathaniel McGuire on Wednesday. (Google Maps, Santa Barbara Police Department)
Authorities reportedly found a duffel bag in McGuire's home containing an empty can with nails glued to the outside, matches, black powder, used and unused fireworks, and a paper believed to be a recipe for explosives. There is.
Police said none of the five people affected by the explosion suffered life-threatening injuries. Four people were taken directly from the scene to the hospital, and five went to the hospital on their own.
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The victims suffered burns and other injuries and have all been released from the hospital.
McGuire could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.
Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
