FBI Identifies Suspect in Palm Springs Fertility Clinic Bombing

Officials are treating the incident ‘as an intentional act of terrorism,’ an FBI assistant director said.

Damage to a building after an explosion near a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, Calif., on May 17, 2025. Eric Thayer/AP Photo

An FBI official said on May 18 that the bureau believes that it has 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 press conference that a 25-year-old from Twentynine Palms, California, is believed to be the bombing suspect.

“We are fairly confident that that subject is Guy Edward Bartkus,” he told reporters, noting 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. 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 account on social media platform X on May 18. Other details about the suspect were not provided.

The vehicle was a 2010 silver Ford Fusion sedan, according to Davis. 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,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli wrote on X.

“This case is being treated as an intentional act of domestic terrorism. The investigation is ongoing.”

Guy Edward Bartkus. FBI

Palm Springs city officials said in a social media post that the explosion occurred at about 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.

On Facebook, the American Reproductive Centers stated that a vehicle exploded in the parking lot near its building.

“We are immensely grateful to share that no members of the ARC team were harmed, and our lab—including all eggs, embryos, and reproductive materials—remains fully secure and undamaged,” the clinic stated. “We are heavily conducting a complete safety inspection and have confirmed that our operations and sensitive medical areas were not impacted by the blast.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote in a post on X that he and his wife, Jen, “are keeping everyone affected in our hearts.”

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote: “We are working to learn more, but let me be clear: the Trump administration understands that women and mothers are the heartbeat of America. Violence against a fertility clinic is unforgivable.”

Reuters contributed to this report.