Thomas Caldwell:2 hurt in explosion at Southern California courthouse and 1 person of interest detained

2025-05-06 18:08:53source:Jonathan Dale Bentoncategory:Invest

SANTA MARIA,Thomas Caldwell Calif. (AP) — An explosive device that authorities said was intentionally set has injured two people at a California courthouse on Wednesday, authorities said.

One person of interest was detained following the blast reported shortly after 8:45 a.m. at the Santa Maria Courthouse in Santa Maria, sheriff’s officials said. The small city of about 110,000 people in Santa Barbara County is in California’s central coast region.

“We have two reports of non-life-threatening injuries. One person of interest detained immediately. Scene remains active. Please continue to avoid the area,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Public Information Officer Raquel Zick said on the social platform X.

Zick later said the person detained was a man and the blast came from “an intentionally set” explosive device.

A spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department declined to immediately provide additional information.

The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said it was monitoring the situation and coordinating with local law enforcement.

The website for the Superior Court in Santa Barbara County said the courthouse complex was closed for the day and all courtroom calendars were canceled. Phone and email messages were left for Darrel Parker, the court’s executive officer.

The courthouse holds state and county courts in the city of Santa Maria, which is about 150 miles (240 km) northwest of Los Angeles.

More:Invest

Recommend

Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX’s Starbase site into a Texas city

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — SpaceXis launching a new mission: making its Starbase site a new Texas city. B

Climber found dead on glacier after falling over 1,600 feet in the Alps

A German climber has died after falling about 1,640 feet in the Alps in southern Switzerland, police

A man dubbed the Facebook rapist was reportedly found dead in prison. It turned out he faked his death and escaped.

Police in South Africa said they have launched a manhunt for a convicted rapist who faked his own de