Federal prosecutors have filed charges against Brian Richard Girardot Jr., 20, of Sacramento, for possessing a firearm within a school zone. U.S. Attorney Eric Grant made the announcement.
According to court records, on February 18, 2026, Girardot dropped off his younger relative at St. Mary Parish School in Sacramento. Later that morning, he returned and walked onto the property of St. Mary Catholic Church and St. Mary Parish School around 9:30 a.m. He attempted to enter the church building with a loaded firearm while an Ash Wednesday mass was underway. Authorities also found additional ammunition and a camouflage jacket in his nearby parked vehicle.
A search of Girardot’s home led law enforcement to discover handwritten notes referencing suicide and threats.
The investigation is being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the federal case.
Girardot also faces criminal charges in state court related to this incident.
If convicted on the federal charge, Girardot could receive up to five years in prison. Sentencing would be determined by the court based on statutory factors and federal sentencing guidelines that consider various elements of each case. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
