Benny Caldera Jr., 40, has been identified as the primary suspect arrested in connection with what Texas authorities described as a “credible” threat to attack the Texas State Capitol on Thursday.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received information that Caldera and several suspected co-conspirators were planning an attack on the Capitol on October 1. DPS worked overnight with the FBI and local law enforcement before arresting the primary suspect.
What We Know About Benny Caldera Jr.
Caldera was arrested at around 3 AM on Wednesday by DPS SWAT at his home in Converse, according to the notice sent to Texas senators and reviewed by KVUE. Court documents cited in the provided information state that Caldera told a friend, “I am going to the Capitol and I am going to shoot it up.”
He was subsequently booked into the Bexar County Jail on a felony charge of terroristic threat against a public servant. Caldera was released on a $75,000 bond at around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
The arrest came only hours after DPS received the information about the alleged planned attack. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt said authorities did not yet know the motive or details surrounding the alleged threat, including the “who, what, when, where.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas DPS and the FBI had stopped a planned attack on the Texas Capitol and thanked DPS for its work.
The threat prompted DPS to increase security and maintain an increased presence at the Capitol as a precaution.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing. The provided information did not give further details about the suspected co-conspirators or their alleged roles in the planned attack.
