A 40-year-old man is accused of plotting a violent attack on the Texas Capitol, and the arrest came fast. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a credible tip came in Tuesday evening about a planned attack in Austin for Thursday. By roughly 3 a.m. Wednesday, SWAT officers had taken Benny Caldera Jr. into custody at a home in Converse, just outside San Antonio. He could face a felony charge of terroristic threat against a public servant and was released after posting a $75,000 bond.
The Capitol stayed open throughout, with increased security that investigators say will remain in place as the case moves forward. Governor Greg Abbott responded directly, saying Texas will not tolerate threats of violence against its Capitol. Authorities have not released specifics about the alleged plot, citing the ongoing investigation, and no attorney comments have been made public yet. Caldera is presumed innocent unless and until a case is proven in court.
For Ellis County, the Capitol is more than a headline. It’s where our state senators and representatives work on the issues that hit home here, from property taxes to water to school funding, and it’s a regular stop for school groups and families from Waxahachie making the trip up I-35. A threat there is a reminder of why security around public buildings matters, and why reporting something suspicious can make a real difference. What do you think, should the Capitol stay open during investigations like this?
