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The FBI on Sunday identified 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus of Twentynine Palms as the suspect in a deadly explosion Saturday that killed him and injured four others, confirming it was a targeted attack on a Palm Springs IVF facility.
Driving the news: Authorities are urgently seeking information about a silver 2010 Ford Fusion sedan with California license plate 8HWS848 seen in Palm Springs hours before Saturday's explosion at American Reproductive Centers in the 1100 block of Indian Canyon Drive.
- The vehicle was destroyed in the blast and is believed to have been driven by Bartkus. Authorities are hoping to track his movements between his 6 a.m. arrival in Palm Springs and the explosion around 11 a.m.
Why it matters: FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis characterized the scene as "probably the largest bombing scene we've ever seen in Southern California," with debris spanning over 250 yards in all directions.
The big picture: Authorities confirmed the suspect had "nihilistic ideations" and believe he was attempting to livestream the explosion, with investigators looking into a possible manifesto.
Zoom in: First responders successfully saved all embryos stored at the fertility clinic.
- "Good guys 1, bad guys 0," Davis said. "They understood the sensitivity and the precious nature of what was inside."
What's next: Parts of Indian Canyon and Palm Canyon drives will remain closed for 24-36 hours as investigators process the scene.
- Residents who find debris are urged to contact authorities rather than handling it themselves.
Bottom line: The FBI asks anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit this website, while Palm Springs has created a special landing page on its Engage Palm Springs platform for updates.
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