LOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Friday ordered a mental health evaluation for a man arrested after an explosive went off in a courthouse lobby that injured five people and who officials say had told law enforcement he had planned to kill deputies and a judge in the building.
U.S. Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin in Los Angeles ordered the evaluation after Nathaniel McGuire, 20, had an outburst at his arraignment hearing, yelling about world events and blaming the government. The outburst occurred when prosecutors requested that he remain in custody. McGuire did not enter a plea and will have another arraignment hearing Oct. 18. His defense also recommended a separate medical evaluation.
McGuire has been charged with maliciously damaging a building with an explosive, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said in a statement.
McGuire was arrested Wednesday outside the courthouse in the city of Santa Maria after throwing the bag as he yelled ''Liberty or Death,'' according to court documents. McGuire had been arrested last July on suspicion of illegal gun possession and was to be arraigned at the courthouse.
The explosion injured five people, including three who suffered burns. All were treated and released.
Santa Barbara County authorities evacuated a five-block radius of businesses, homes and a school after the explosion in Santa Maria, which is home to about 110,000 people in the central coast region.
Federal public defender Iboh Umodu who is representing McGuire declined to comment.
McGuire told law enforcement after his arrest that he had gone to the courthouse planning to kill deputies working at the security desk and then go back to his car to get weapons and reenter the courthouse to kill a judge, federal officials said.
