A 40-year-old Texas man was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of planning a violent attack on the Texas State Capitol in Austin, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Law enforcement officials acted after receiving a tip Tuesday evening, deploying SWAT officers to execute an arrest at about 3 a.m. at a residence in Converse, Texas, located roughly 15 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio.
Arrest Details and Criminal Charges for Benny Caldera Jr.
The suspect, identified as Benny Caldera Jr., was booked into the Bexar County Jail and jailed on a $75,000 bond, according to state officials and Bexar County court records. Caldera faces a potential charge of felony terroristic threat against a public servant. Messages left seeking comment from an attorney listed for Caldera were not immediately returned. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, DPS officers spoke to a friend of the suspect who reported that Caldera made verbal threats to assault the Capitol building. Arrest documents state that the friend recounted Caldera saying, “I love you, if you don’t see me again,” and adding, “I am going to the Capitol and I am going to shoot it up.” Investigators stated in court documents that Caldera also expressed anger toward the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), stating that “these people have to be exterminated.” Bexar County court records show a prior charge for Caldera involving the unlicensed carrying of a weapon in November 2023.
Joint Investigation by Texas DPS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division Special Agents worked alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation to evaluate the validity of the threat and coordinate the pre-dawn raid. Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the multi-agency coordination in a statement released on social media, emphasizing that the state received credible information regarding an individual planning a violent attack scheduled for Thursday. “Texas will NOT tolerate threats of violence against our Capitol,” Abbott said in his statement. Officials have declined to release further specifics regarding the mechanics of the alleged plot, citing the ongoing active investigation.
Capitol Security Measures and Legislative Operations
Following the early morning arrest, public safety officials notified state lawmakers and legislative leadership about the threat and subsequent apprehension on Wednesday. Texas Senate Secretary Patsy Spaw issued a notice to officials confirming that security measures would be heightened at the Capitol complex while the investigation continues. Despite the increased police and tactical presence, state officials verified that the Texas Capitol remained open to the public during normal operating hours.
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