Sacramento ABC shooting suspect tells CBS he is 'not a violent man' from behind bars; faces state and federal charges

Sacramento — Anibal Hernandez Santana, the man accused of firing three bullets at the KXTV ABC station here, says from behind bars that he is 'not a violent man.' Santana faces state and federal charges in connection with the Sept. 19 incident, in which shots struck the station’s exterior but did not harm employees or bystanders. The attack prompted a lockdown at the facility and added to a wave of concern about threats to journalists during a period of heightened political tension.

Authorities charged Santana with multiple counts, including assault with a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and the possession and discharge of a firearm within a school zone. Those counts accompany federal charges in the case, which prosecutors say is moving through both state and federal courts. Santana was arrested on the day of the shooting and released on bail before being rearrested by FBI agents the following day at his home.

In the CBS Sacramento interview, Santana declined to discuss whether he is guilty or to provide a motive for the attack. He described himself as devoted to the country and said he is of Puerto Rican descent. He also outlined his educational and professional background, noting that he studied regional and city planning at the University of California, Berkeley, and law at UC Law San Francisco. He said he is a lawyer who formerly worked as a health policy analyst for the California Rural Indian Health Board. He did not address the handwritten notes investigators say were found in his car or elaborate on his social-media posts that touched on political figures.

Prosecutors have cited notes found in Santana’s car that appeared to express hostility toward Trump administration officials, along with online posts in the days leading up to the shooting that touched on national politics. The investigation remains active as authorities review whether the online material and the notes bear on motive or any further charges. The case has drawn attention to safety concerns for media personnel and the broader political climate surrounding threats to public institutions.

The Sacramento incident occurred as ABC network stations nationwide paused Jimmy Kimmel Live after remarks about Charlie Kirk, a disruption that prompted broader discussion about media-security and the role of political rhetoric in real-world violence. Kimmel’s program subsequently returned to the air after a widely publicized backlash, underscoring how entertainment and political content can intersect with real-world security concerns in the United States.

If Santana is ultimately convicted on the state and federal charges, prosecutors say he could face decades in prison. Court proceedings in the case will determine issues of guilt, potential sentencing, and whether additional charges or constraints related to the notes and social-media postings will be pursued.