Santa Barbara Man Admits to Courthouse Bombing in Retaliation for Seized Firearms

A Santa Barbara County man confessed on Monday to setting off a bomb at a courthouse in 2024. He did this after law enforcement took his firearms earlier that year. Nathaniel James McGuire, aged 22, admitted in a Los Angeles court to using a weapon of mass destruction and maliciously destroying a building with an explosive.

McGuire’s plea explained that the bombing in Santa Maria aimed to kill sheriff’s deputies. It injured three people and damaged the courthouse. He faces up to life in prison when sentenced on March 1. McGuire’s lawyer has not yet commented.

This defendant’s act of terror caused physical and emotional harm and could have had tragic results,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Those who use bombs against law enforcement and government officials must face severe punishment.”

McGuire acknowledged that on September 24, 2024, he tossed a backpack containing an explosive past security at the courthouse. The backpack slid between a victim’s legs and exploded outside a courtroom. Prosecutors said McGuire shouted, “Liberty or death” when he threw the bag.

Authorities explained that McGuire was at the courthouse due to a firearm charge from a July 28 arrest. Deputies had found him with an unregistered, loaded revolver.

Following the bombing, McGuire attempted to retrieve two long guns and 10 Molotov cocktails from his vehicle. He planned to return to the courthouse to further target deputies and a judge, according to his plea. Escaping to access his red Ford Mustang, McGuire was captured by law enforcement.

A witness described the explosion filling the courthouse with smoke. A detained man appeared to have ammunition falling from his pockets. Shane Mellon, who represents a company scheduled to appear in court, heard the man yelling, “This could have been much worse,” he remarked.

The courthouse suffered approximately $35,000 in damage and closed for several days. McGuire detonated the bomb out of retaliation for various alleged wrongs by the government, including his firearms being seized earlier in the year.

Authorities found bomb-making materials at McGuire’s home. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated, “McGuire launched a terroristic assault on a court with intent to kill law enforcement and a judge. His attack injured three people, and without the swift actions of security and law enforcement, it could have been far worse.”