California man charged by Feds in courthouse bombing that injures 5

A 20-year-old man facing trial on a firearms charge is said to have bombed the California courthouse in an attempt to kill court officers.

Nathaniel James McGuire is charged with malicious damage to a building with an explosive. That's according to the redacted federal complaint and corresponding affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, which alleges he bombed the courthouse “with the intent to kill the officers working the security desk.” ” and that he also had plans to kill a judge.

In a statement, Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, called Wednesday's incident a “blatant act of violence” intended to “cause harm and evade justice.”

At about 8:48 a.m. – ahead of his arraignment later in the day on Wednesday, September 25 – the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said they received “a report of an explosion” at Santa Barbara Superior Court after McGuire had allegedly thrown a bag that exploded in the hallway at a checkpoint.

According to federal authorities, at least five people were injured in the bombing.

According to the sheriff's office, three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including burns. All five people were treated and released from hospital later that day.

A deputy reportedly saw McGuire enter the courthouse and shout “freedom or death” while throwing the bomb. The affidavit states the 20-year-old fled on foot.

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McGuire was arrested by law enforcement “while attempting to gain entry to a red Ford Mustang outside the courthouse,” the affidavit states.

In the limo, the deputy allegedly saw ammunition, a flare gun and a box of fireworks, according to the affidavit, which alleges McGuire was “yelling that the government had taken his guns and that everyone was fighting, standing up and must rebel.”

A later search of McGuire's vehicle revealed a shotgun, a rifle, ammunition and 10 Molotov cocktails, according to the affidavit.

Authorities also recovered a “suspected improvised explosive device,” which they described in the affidavit as a can “wrapped in duct tape” that contained “a black powder with nails stuck to the outside.”

McGuire allegedly later told authorities that he had purchased nails at a Home Depot that Monday, Sept. 23, and that he had a list of grievances and farewell wishes on his laptop, according to the affidavit.

In his bedroom, according to the affidavit, the FBI found “an empty metal can with nails taped to the outside, a duffel bag containing matches, black powder, used and unused fireworks, and papers that appeared to contain recipes for explosive/energetic materials.”

According to the sheriff's office, which released a mugshot of the 20-year-old with multiple cuts near his right eye, McGuire was wearing body armor under his jacket when he was arrested.

Santa Barbara officials had previously arrested McGuire and charged him with possession of a loaded and concealed revolver that was not registered to him, according to the sheriff's office, which said Wednesday that it was working with local firefighters “to determine whether the Suspects are linked to several recent revolver arson crimes.”

According to the sheriff's office, McGuire was initially booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail North Branch for offenses including attempted murder, manufacturing an explosive device and using an explosive device to commit attempted murder.

He is scheduled to make his first appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon, according to federal prosecutors.

His court record was not available online Friday morning and it was not immediately clear whether he had retained an attorney.

If convicted, McGuire faces a mandatory sentence of between seven and 40 years in federal prison, according to prosecutors.

“This defendant’s alleged misconduct was appalling,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “Not only did he injure five people and traumatize many more, but he also had a cache of weapons that would have allowed him to cause even greater destruction had he not been stopped.”