SAN DIEGO (KGTV)-- Daniel Mackinnon, the man accused of slamming into and setting fire to a defense contractor building in Kearny Mesa on Wednesday, is now being federally charged.
As of early Thursday morning, Mackinnon was charged with two arson and one vandalism charge, with a $1,000,000 bond. However, as of Thursday before noon, San Diego County Jail Records showed that Mackinnon was no longer in San Diego Police custody. According to the United States District Attorney's Office, all the state charges were dropped, and his case was transferred to federal court. He is now in US Marshals custody.
At 3:15 pm Thursday, Mackinnon made his initial federal court appearance in front of Hon. Mitchell D. Dembin. He faces two counts of "Malicious
Destruction of a Building by Means of Fire,” or federal arson.
The new federal complaint shows that 36-year-old Daniel Hector Mackinnon drove a Toyota Prius into the Raytheon building in Kearny Mesa at 2:15 am Wednesday. When he opened the hatch, a fireball shot out from the car and engulfed him. Surveillance video showed Mackinnon running while holding his right hand to his waistband area.
In the rubble, investigators found two empty magazine cartridges, a melted gas container, a bottle with a strong odor of gas, and towels. The gas cap on the Prius was also missing. Investigators found that the car had two stolen Prius license plates. But the VIN of the car itself was registered to Mackinnon.
Agents say after lighting the fire, Mackinnon headed to Mexico. But something brought him back. Nine hours after the explosion at 11:30 am, he was seen re-entering the United States from Mexico, at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, driving a Buick sedan, also with stolen plates. That is when agents arrested him.
At his first court appearance, Mackinnon stipulated to being held in custody without bond pending further proceedings. His preliminary hearing is set for May 9, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. and his arraignment is set for May 23, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. before the Honorable Ruben B. Brooks.
