A deadly car explosion rocked a Palm Springs fertility center this weekend, in what authorities are calling a deliberate act of domestic terrorism.

According to the Christian Post, Four people were injured, and extensive property damage occurred when a suspect allegedly set off a bomb near a reproductive clinic, killing himself in the process.

The explosion occurred on Saturday, May 17, in the parking lot of American Reproductive Centers (ARC), a fertility clinic located in the 1100 block of North Indian Canyon Drive. The blast caused injuries to four civilians, who were treated and later released on Sunday, May 18, according to local news outlet KESQ-TV.

Nearby businesses were also damaged, including a regional hospital, a liquor store, and a Denny's restaurant. Desert Regional Medical Center, which sits adjacent to the blast site, sustained visible damage to its outer structure. Fortunately, the ARC clinic was closed at the time of the incident, and none of the staff were harmed.

Dr. Maher Abdallah, who leads the ARC clinic, confirmed in a statement that their fertility lab remained secure. “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,” he stated.

Suspect Identified and Motivation Investigated

The Palm Springs Police Department and federal investigators have identified the deceased suspect as Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, of Twentynine Palms, California. He is believed to have died during the explosion and is considered solely responsible for the attack, according to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.

Officials are treating the incident as a deliberate domestic terror attack. The FBI is leading the investigation into the motives and affiliations of Bartkus, who does not appear to have acted in coordination with any known group.

The suspect left behind a website titled “promortalism.com,” now taken offline but cached versions have been reviewed by authorities. The site allegedly advocated for global sterilization and contained messages promoting violence against individuals supportive of reproductive health and pro-life beliefs.

Online Manifesto and Radical Ideology

One alarming post from the website stated: “Welcome! Here, you can download the recorded stream of my suicide & bombing of an IVF clinic!” The file referenced in this post remains under investigation by federal authorities.

The site also featured anti-religious text and satanic imagery. In one section, it read: “Your God definitely doesn't exist, but if he did, I'd choose Satan over your evil God.” Elsewhere, it suggested religious believers were harming society simply by supporting human reproduction.

Investigators recovered a manifesto believed to be authored by Bartkus, described as an “anti pro-life” text by federal officials. It appears to closely match the themes found on his website and includes condemnations of pro-life ideologies, Christianity, and conventional family planning efforts.

Community Reactions and Political Backdrop

ARC posted a message to the public via social media on Sunday, expressing gratitude for support and unity during recovery. “We. Choose. Hope,” the post said in part. “We are humbled by your kindness, strengthened by our community, and filled with hope as we move forward — together.”

Although Bartkus lived in Twentynine Palms, a city known for its large Marine Corps base, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Corps confirmed he had no connection to the military.

The bombing occurred during what has become an increasingly heated national discourse over reproductive technologies. In February, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing policy changes aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) services.

Tensions Between IVF and Pro-Life Movements

While some praised the policy for increasing support for families facing infertility, others criticized IVF practices as being incompatible with pro-life principles. Lila Rose, founder of the organization Live Action, stated publicly that IVF results in the destruction of many human embryos.

“The staggering cost of IVF is human lives — over 90% of tiny boys and girls created via IVF only to be frozen, discarded, or killed,” said Rose. “Every human life begins at fertilization, yet IVF treats human beings as disposable.”

The suspect’s writings and website content suggest he rejected both pro-life and pro-choice ideologies, instead advocating for total human extinction. His writings referenced mass killer Adam Lanza, drawing additional concern from law enforcement about possible extremist messaging.

Ongoing Investigation and Public Safety Precautions

Federal agents continue reviewing all materials collected from the promortalism.com website and the suspect’s home. Digital evidence and forensic data are being handled by the FBI, and investigators are parsing a wide array of texts, recordings, and references left by Bartkus.

The public is being urged to report any contact they may have had with the website or the suspect. Officials emphasize that, at this time, there is no known broader threat connected to the ideology Bartkus espoused.

Local businesses near the site of the bombing continue cleanup efforts. Reconstruction timelines for those affected, including Desert Regional Medical Center and other nearby facilities, have not yet been confirmed.