What We Know About The Bombing At Palm Springs Fertility Clinic

Topline

The FBI is investigating the bombing of a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, as an “intentional act of terrorism,” and they identified a suspect who they believe died in the explosion, officials said Sunday.

Investigators document the scene at the front of the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic … More following a bomb blast on May 17, 2025 in Palm Springs, California.

Getty Images

Key Facts

The FBI and Palm Springs Police Department said Sunday they had identified Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, as the suspect in the Saturday explosion at American Reproductive Centers Palm Springs.

Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said Bartkus “had nihilistic ideations and this was a targeted attack,” adding authorities believe he was trying to livestream the explosion.

Bartkus is believed to have been found dead near the explosion, and had “stated in writings or recordings that he was against bringing people into the world against their will,” CBS Los Angeles reported, citing people familiar with the investigation.

Officials confirmed Saturday they were investigating the attack as an “intentional act of terrorism,” and Davis said Sunday it was “probably the one of the largest bombing investigations we’ve had in Southern California.”

What Happened In Palm Springs?

Just before 11 a.m. PDT on Saturday, an explosion occurred near downtown Palm Springs. The FBI confirmed shortly after in a Facebook post that it was responding alongside police and firefighters to the scene with “investigators, bomb technicians & an evidence response team.” Multiple buildings were damaged across several blocks, The New York Times reported, and the explosion came from inside or near a vehicle at the American Reproductive Centers building, which is near the city’s primary hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center. Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills said in a statement Saturday night police would “work through the night collecting evidence and following up on information,” and noted he was “very confident this community is not at risk. The problem is contained.”

What Do We Know About The Palm Springs Explosion Suspect?

Bartkus was a resident of Twentynine Palms, a city about one hour from Palm Springs that is home to a large U.S. Marine Corps base, though Mills told The Desert Sun authorities don’t believe Bartkus had ties to the military. Police are asking for help “identifying gaps in (the) investigation,” Davis said Sunday, adding they knew where Bartkus was around 6 a.m. Saturday and the timeline of when he got to Palm Springs, but they don’t know what he did in the city prior to the explosion.

How Many People Were Injured In Palm Springs?

Four people were injured—though all of them have been released from the hospital or medical care—and Bartkus is the only person believed to have died, officials said. Davis said at a press conference “all of the embryos” at the facility were saved. The facility also said in a statement no members of its team were hurt.

Crucial Quote

“Yesterday a man intent on harming others in our city failed,” Mills said Sunday. “Palm Springs survived, and we are stronger and more resilient as a result.”

What Is American Reproductive Centers?

American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs is Coachella Valley’s “first & only full-service fertility center & IVF lab,” according to its website. Its services include in-vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, genetic testing, family building for LGBTQ+ families, surrogacy, fertility evaluations, egg donating and freezing and more. It describes its mission as using “the most current resources, technology, and expertise available in fertility treatments to help couples make their dreams of parenthood come true.”

Key Background

IVF became a highly politicized issue last year when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that three families whose frozen embryos were inadvertently discarded by a medical clinic had the right to seek punitive damages under the state’s 1872 Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, meaning embryos were children in the eyes of the law. The ruling had a chilling effect and prompted a number of clinics offering IVF to pause their treatments out of concern they could face wrongful death lawsuits. During the IVF process, embryos that are not used for implantation are often donated or discarded, but after the ruling some providers worried destroying or donating unused embryos could be illegal. Shortly after the ruling, though, the state’s attorney general said he wouldn’t prosecute IVF providers or families, and Alabama’s Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill protecting providers from civil or criminal liability. Last summer, Senate Republicans blocked a bill brought by Democrats seeking to protect the right to IVF nationwide and Republicans criticized the bill as part of a “partisan campaign of false fearmongering intended to mislead and confuse the American people,” asserting it wasn’t necessary as IVF is legal in every state.