FBI releases new details on Palm Springs bombing; suspect had weapon and ammunition
As Palm Springs heads into the Memorial Day weekend less than a week after the terrorist bombing of a downtown fertility clinic, the FBI released a few new details Friday on its ongoing investigation.
The bureau confirmed that an unspecified weapon and ammunition were found near the wreckage of the silver sedan that exploded May 17 at the American Reproductive Centers clinic and killed the suspect, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, and injured four others. The clinic later confirmed that no eggs, embryos or reproductive materials were damaged in the bombing.
A tripod and a cell phone equipped with a camera were also found near the scene, suggesting Bartkus attempted to livestream the attack on the clinic, FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller said Friday. (The bureau had previously said it was looking into eyewitness reports of the tripod, but hadn't confirmed its existence.)
'Investigators are working to determine whether the suspected livestream was successful but, to date, have found no evidence to confirm this,' the bureau said in its update.
Bartkus, a resident of Twentynine Palms, also had access to 'a large quantity' of commercially available chemical products that could be used to form a homemade explosive device, according to the FBI.
'Due to the ongoing investigation, specific details regarding the makeup of the explosive have not been disclosed,' the FBI said Friday.
More: 'We. Choose. Hope': ARC patients, staff push forward after fertility clinic bombing
The car explosion at the American Reproductive Centers clinic in downtown Palm Springs killed Bartkus and injured four others, who were later released from medical care. The center was closed that day, and ARC later confirmed that no eggs, embryos or reproductive materials were damaged.
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is continuing to investigate Bartkus, who the bureau said had 'ideations of attacking clinics in the past and had anti-natalist beliefs; that is, that it is morally wrong or unjustifiable to have children.'
'The (Joint Terrorism Task Force) continues to investigate multiple online posts and audio recordings posted by Bartkus where he had expressed these views,' the FBI said.
The bureau also said evidence shows Bartkus left his residence in Twentynine Palms at approximately 6 a.m. May 17 and was in the Palm Springs vicinity for "several hours" prior to the bombing. The car that exploded was a silver 2010 Ford Fusion sedan.
The FBI is asking anyone with information about this explosion or the planning of this attack to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or provide information online at tips.fbi.gov. A digital portal for tips is also available at fbi.gov/PalmSpringsVehicleExplosion.
Tom Coulter is a reporter with The Desert Sun. Reach him at tcoulter@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: FBI releases new details on Palm Springs bombing
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