Tension and fear gripped Sacramento after shots were fired into the ABC10 station on Broadway, shaking the newsroom and raising serious concerns about the safety of journalists. The attack happened in broad daylight, when gunfire shattered a lobby window while staff were inside. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the incident has left the community deeply unsettled.
Authorities identified the suspect as 64 year old Anibal Hernandez Santana of Sacramento. He was initially arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied building, and negligent discharge of a firearm. His bail was set at two hundred thousand dollars, but after his release, the FBI re arrested him on a federal charge tied to interference with licensed broadcast communications. The move underscored the seriousness of the attack and the potential national implications when media institutions are targeted.
Investigators said the gunfire came from a vehicle, leading them to treat the shooting as a drive by style attack. The motive has not been confirmed, though officials are examining whether it could be connected to recent protests at the station. Demonstrators had gathered the day before after ABC10 announced it would indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live following controversial remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Whether or not the two events are directly linked, the timing has fueled speculation about anger toward the station.
The building’s parent company Tegna confirmed all employees were safe and announced new security measures at the Sacramento site. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the attack, calling any act of violence against journalists an assault on democracy itself. Media rights advocates echoed his sentiment, pointing to growing hostility toward the press nationwide.
For the people inside ABC10, the fear was real even though no one was physically harmed. The symbolism of bullets striking a newsroom carries a heavy weight, reminding both journalists and the public how vulnerable the free press can be when anger turns violent.
This shooting serves as a wake up call for stronger protections around local media outlets. It also highlights the importance of defending press freedom at a time when emotions and political divisions often spill beyond debate into threats and violence. In Sacramento, the community is left to reflect on how quickly disagreement can escalate into danger, and how much we rely on journalists to continue their work despite growing risks.
