Man Arrested in Drive-By Shooting at Sacramento TV Station
A drive-by shooting at an ABC affiliate TV station in Sacramento, California has left no one injured but sparked concern for media safety. Anibal Hernandezsantana, 64, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies after firing at least three bullets into the lobby of the ABC10 TV station on Friday afternoon.
According to the Sacramento Police Department, Hernandezsantana was taken into custody early Saturday morning and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail. He is facing charges that include shooting into an occupied building, assault with a deadly weapon, and negligent discharge of a firearm. The police department stated in a statement to NPR that "the safety of our community and the media is our top priority."
The incident occurred just a day after protesters demonstrated outside the station over Jimmy Kimmel's show being suspended indefinitely by ABC. While it is unclear if there is any connection between the two events, the shooting has raised concerns about the safety of journalists and media outlets.
"We take incidents like this very seriously," said a spokesperson for TEGNA, the company that owns ABC10. "The safety of our employees and the community is our top priority, and we are cooperating fully with the police investigation."
The drive-by shooting has also sparked concern among media organizations and advocacy groups. "This incident highlights the growing trend of violence against journalists and media outlets," said a spokesperson for the National Press Club. "We urge law enforcement to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of journalists and protect them from harm."
Hernandezsantana was released from jail on Saturday, but it is unclear what his next steps will be. The police department has not released any further information about the investigation or potential motives.
As the investigation continues, ABC10 has taken steps to increase security at its facilities. "We are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our employees and the community," said a spokesperson for the station.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by journalists and media outlets every day. As one journalist noted, "This is a wake-up call for us all to take seriously the threats we face in our work."
In related news, ABC has announced that it will be increasing security measures at its facilities nationwide in response to the incident.
The investigation into the drive-by shooting is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.
This story was compiled from reports by NPR News and BREAKING: NPR News.