Officials are treating the incident ‘as an intentional act of terrorism,’ said an FBI assistant director.
An FBI official said on Sunday that the bureau believes they have identified the suspect involved in a bombing near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, a day earlier.
Akil Davis, assistant director at the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said at a news conference that a 25-year-old from Twentynine Palms, California, is believed to be the bombing suspect.
BREAKING: FBI confirms Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, is dead suspect in Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing pic.twitter.com/2XnTBTYZee
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 18, 2025
“We are fairly confident that that subject is Guy Edward Bartkus,” he told reporters, adding that the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force believes that Bartkus was the deceased “subject found near” a vehicle that contained the bomb.
“The subject had nihilistic ideations and this was a targeted attack,” Davis said. “We believe he was attempting to livestream it and yes, that is also part of our investigation.”
A photo of Bartkus was released by the FBI on its social media page on Sunday afternoon. Other details about the suspect were not provided.
The FBI has identified Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of 29 Palms as the primary suspect in the #PalmSprings vehicle explosion. The vehicle was a silver Ford Fusion sedan, plate 8HWS848. Please call 1800 CALLFBI with information or upload relevant video/images at https://t.co/CnxyRN1YIv pic.twitter.com/dYAG26xCYY
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) May 18, 2025
The vehicle was a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan, Davis said. He then requested the public to come forward with any tips they may have regarding Bartkus or the vehicle.
Video footage of the incident showed a totally destroyed vehicle near the American Reproductive Centers clinic, which also suffered significant damage.
The bombing injured four other people in addition to killing Bartkus. Davis said all embryos at the facility were saved.
“An anti pro-life manifesto believed to be authored by the suspect has been located and is being examined by the FBI,” wrote U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli on social platform X.
Palm Springs Explosion Update:
— U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) May 18, 2025
We can now confirm the identity of the suspect is Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of 29 Palms.
Bartkus is believed to be the individual who is deceased at the scene. Investigators are working to positively identify the remains.
An anti pro-life…
“This case is being treated as an intentional act of domestic terrorism. The investigation is ongoing.”
Palm Springs city officials said in a social media post that the explosion occurred around 11 a.m. local time at North Indian Canyon Drive, while Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said in a separate statement that the blast field extended multiple blocks.
The blast, he said, damaged nearby buildings and confirmed that it originated at 1199 North Indian Canyon Drive, the address of American Reproductive Centers.
