Palm Springs car bombing: Pro-Mortalist guy Edward Bartkus kills himself and injures four at fertility clinic
Shreeaa Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | May 19, 2025, 18:23 IST
The FBI says it's sending bomb technicians to the site of a car explosion that rocked Palm Springs
( Image credit : AP )
In a shocking turn of events, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus reportedly set off a car bomb outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, resulting in his death and injuries to four others. The explosion also caused significant damage to surrounding buildings.
A 25-year-old man, Guy Edward Bartkus, allegedly detonated a car bomb near the American Reproductive Center fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, on Saturday, killing himself and injuring four others. Authorities identified Bartkus, a resident of Twentynine Palms, as a self-proclaimed "pro-mortalist" who opposed bringing people into the world without their consent. The FBI is treating the incident as an intentional act of terrorism and investigating a possible manifesto left by Bartkus, who they say had "nihilistic ideation." The explosion damaged nearby businesses and residential properties.
Guy Edward Bartkus allegedly set off a car bomb on Saturday near the American Reproductive Center fertility clinic. The incident occurred on North Indian Canyon Drive near East Tachevah Drive. Bartkus, who was from Twentynine Palms, died in the explosion.
Four other people were injured in the blast. The explosion damaged nearby businesses and residential properties. Pieces of Bartkus' car were thrown hundreds of feet in the air and several blocks away.
Authorities identified Bartkus as the suspect. He was reportedly a self-proclaimed "pro-mortalist." He believed that people should not be brought into the world without their own consent.
Bartkus reportedly wrote in writings and recordings that he opposed the idea of bringing people into the world against their will, KCAL News reported, citing two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. U.S. Attorney Bilal "Bill" Essayli said on X that the writings he left behind were "anti-pro-life."
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of FBI Los Angeles' field office, addressed the situation at a Sunday news conference.
"This was a targeted attack against the IVF facility," Akil Davis said.
Davis further stated the FBI's stance on the incident.
"Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism."
The FBI described Bartkus as having "nihilistic ideation." They noted he may have attempted to livestream the bombing on social media. Authorities are also looking into a possible manifesto Bartkus wrote as part of their investigation, Davis said.
"Based on our investigation, some of the posts that he's made online, some of the comments made in his manifesto that we're combing through right now — it's kind of what led us to that nihilist belief," Davis said.
The car bombing happened just before 11 a.m. on Saturday. The location was on North Indian Canyon Drive near East Tachevah Drive, according to city officials.
Bartkus was driving a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan with license plate number 8HWS848. Officials believe they are aware of when he entered Palm Springs. They are seeking the public’s help with finding out where he was in the city before the attack.
The FBI said Bartkus was not on their radar prior to the bombing. No criminal records, bankruptcies or sexual offenses were immediately found in a public records scan of Bartkus by Fox News Digital.
Bartkus was a resident of Twentynine Palms. This city in San Bernardino County is located about 60 miles away from Palm Springs. The city serves as an entry point to the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park.
"This is probably the largest bombing scene that we've had in Southern California," Davis said.
American Reproductive Centers claims to be the first and only full-service fertility center and in vitro fertilization lab in Coachella Valley, according to its website. While the building was damaged, the IVF lab and its materials remained unharmed.
The FBI, the Palm Springs Police Department and the Palm Springs Fire Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Guy Edward Bartkus allegedly set off a car bomb on Saturday near the American Reproductive Center fertility clinic. The incident occurred on North Indian Canyon Drive near East Tachevah Drive. Bartkus, who was from Twentynine Palms, died in the explosion.
Four other people were injured in the blast. The explosion damaged nearby businesses and residential properties. Pieces of Bartkus' car were thrown hundreds of feet in the air and several blocks away.
Authorities identified Bartkus as the suspect. He was reportedly a self-proclaimed "pro-mortalist." He believed that people should not be brought into the world without their own consent.
Bartkus reportedly wrote in writings and recordings that he opposed the idea of bringing people into the world against their will, KCAL News reported, citing two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. U.S. Attorney Bilal "Bill" Essayli said on X that the writings he left behind were "anti-pro-life."
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of FBI Los Angeles' field office, addressed the situation at a Sunday news conference.
"This was a targeted attack against the IVF facility," Akil Davis said.
Davis further stated the FBI's stance on the incident.
"Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism."
The FBI described Bartkus as having "nihilistic ideation." They noted he may have attempted to livestream the bombing on social media. Authorities are also looking into a possible manifesto Bartkus wrote as part of their investigation, Davis said.
"Based on our investigation, some of the posts that he's made online, some of the comments made in his manifesto that we're combing through right now — it's kind of what led us to that nihilist belief," Davis said.
The car bombing happened just before 11 a.m. on Saturday. The location was on North Indian Canyon Drive near East Tachevah Drive, according to city officials.
Bartkus was driving a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan with license plate number 8HWS848. Officials believe they are aware of when he entered Palm Springs. They are seeking the public’s help with finding out where he was in the city before the attack.
The FBI said Bartkus was not on their radar prior to the bombing. No criminal records, bankruptcies or sexual offenses were immediately found in a public records scan of Bartkus by Fox News Digital.
Bartkus was a resident of Twentynine Palms. This city in San Bernardino County is located about 60 miles away from Palm Springs. The city serves as an entry point to the Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree National Park.
"This is probably the largest bombing scene that we've had in Southern California," Davis said.
American Reproductive Centers claims to be the first and only full-service fertility center and in vitro fertilization lab in Coachella Valley, according to its website. While the building was damaged, the IVF lab and its materials remained unharmed.
The FBI, the Palm Springs Police Department and the Palm Springs Fire Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.