Anibal Hernandez Santana, charged in the ABC10 building shooting, pleaded not guilty in federal court on Monday. He faces federal charges including firing and possessing a gun in a school zone, interfering with a radio station, and a criminal forfeiture allegation, according to ABC10.
Defense attorney Mark Reichel questioned why federal authorities are handling a case usually managed by state court. The defense is set to review evidence from prosecutors, including reports, photos, and videos. Before the TV station shooting, Hernandez Santana visited Sutterville Elementary School, where he had volunteered as a Spanish teacher, which raised concerns about school safety. Reichel said, "The evidence is very clear, there was no targeting of any elementary school whatsoever," as reported by KCRA.
Parents expressed concern after the incident, with Anna Zheng saying, "You don't know if you're going to see your kid the next day," as mentioned by KCRA. The school principal said new security measures are being put in place. Anibal Hernandez Santana faces federal charges with up to 16 years in prison and $260,000 in fines. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on November 17 and in state court on October 16.
