Authorities in Santa Barbara, California are responding to reports of an explosion at the Santa Maria Courthouse on Thursday. The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office has urged residents to avoid the area as it has not yet been declared safe. It remains unclear if there are any injuries resulting from the incident.
A spokesperson for the SBSO, Raquel Zick, issued a statement confirming the explosion and advising the public to steer clear of the courthouse vicinity until further notice. Local media sources have indicated that at least one suspect has been apprehended, with law enforcement now conducting searches for potential explosives at other locations.
Bus Hijacking in Los Angeles Leads to Fatal Shooting
In a separate incident, a bus hijacking in Los Angeles resulted in a fatal shooting on Wednesday morning. The suspect, after fatally shooting a passenger, commandeered the bus and initiated a police pursuit that lasted over an hour.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported that the suspect fired shots at individuals before taking control of the bus and instructing the driver to head northbound. During the hijacking, some passengers managed to exit the bus safely.
The LAPD's SWAT team intervened and halted the bus at South Alameda Street and 6th Street, approximately six miles from the initial hijacking site. By employing spike strips, law enforcement successfully immobilized the bus, leading to the suspect barricading himself inside.
Following the apprehension, the injured victim was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to the injuries sustained during the incident. The LAPD has now shifted its focus to treating the case as a homicide investigation.
