Debris is seen outside a damaged American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic after a bomb blast outside the building in Palm Springs, California, on May 17, 2025. A bomb blast outside a California fertility clinic killed one person Saturday, in what the US attorney general called an "unforgivable" attack. The blast ripped through downtown Palm Springs, badly damaging the clinic and blowing out the windows and doors of other nearby buildings. (Photo by Gabriel Osorio / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL OSORIO/AFP via Getty Images)
San Diego, California – Following Saturday’s deadly bombing at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office announced it will conduct extra patrols around local fertility centers beginning Monday. The decision, made “out of an abundance of caution,” comes as federal and local authorities continue to investigate what they describe as one of the largest bombing scenes in Southern California in recent memory.
While there are currently no known threats to clinics in San Diego County, law enforcement officials said they are taking proactive steps to ensure public safety.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the incident,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. “We want to reassure the public that their safety and well-being will always be a priority for the Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement.”
The department is also encouraging the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activity by calling 911 or contacting their local police.
The increased vigilance follows a tragic explosion Saturday morning at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs. The blast occurred around 11 a.m., injuring four people and killing the suspect, identified by the FBI as 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus of Twentynine Palms. Officials say Bartkus was killed in the explosion, which severely damaged the clinic and scattered debris over a wide area.
Although the clinic was closed to patients at the time of the attack, four individuals were hurt. All have since been treated and released from medical care. Authorities emphasized that all stored embryos inside the facility were unharmed.
During a Sunday briefing, Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, described the blast as “probably the largest bombing scene that we’ve had in Southern California,” with evidence found hundreds of feet from the detonation site.
While an official motive has not been confirmed, multiple news outlets have reported that Bartkus may have been driven by strong opposition to in-vitro fertilization (IVF), raising concerns about targeted violence toward reproductive health facilities.
Other law enforcement agencies in the region, including San Diego Police and Chula Vista Police, have not ordered extra patrols. However, Escondido police said officers have been briefed and are maintaining heightened awareness during their routine duties.
As the investigation continues, the Sheriff’s Office urged the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report anything suspicious.
