A reported plot to attack the Texas State Capitol was disrupted after authorities arrested a 40-year-old man accused of threatening to unleash gunfire on the government building and making violent statements about a prominent pro-Israel organization.
Benny Caldera Jr., a resident of Converse, Texas, is now in federal custody following an overnight investigation involving the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the FBI, and local law enforcement agencies.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by NBC 5, investigators were alerted to alarming statements Caldera allegedly made to a friend. The witness reportedly told authorities that Caldera intended to shoot up the State Capitol and expressed hostility toward the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
The alleged threats prompted an urgent law enforcement response, particularly given the timing of the reported attack. Authorities said the suspect was allegedly planning to carry out the violence on Thursday, October 1, the same day President Donald Trump was scheduled to visit Texas.
