Suspect arrested in alleged mass shooting threat at Texas State Capitol, ABC News sources say
AUSTIN, Texas -- A man is in custody after allegedly planning a mass shooting on the Texas State Capitol in Austin, sources told ABC News.
After receiving credible information about an individual planning a violent attack on the Capitol on Tuesday evening, Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT said it arrested Benny Caldera, 40, at his residence in Converse, Texas, just outside San Antonio on Wednesday at around 3 a.m.
According to a notice sent by Texas Senate Secretary Patsy Spaw to state senators, the alleged attack was set to take place on Oct. 1.
The FBI, DPS SWAT, and other law enforcement worked together to arrest Caldera, according to Spaw's notice.
Caldera was booked into the Bexar County Jail and charged with felony terroristic threat against a public servant, according to DPS.
"The investigation is ongoing, and there is and will continue to be an enhanced DPS presence at the Capitol," the notice said.
Spaw said in her notice that the threat was not cause for concern, but she wanted to let Senate members know.
An official briefed on the investigation told ABC News that the man had allegedly been threatening to conduct a mass shooting at the Texas Capitol and had been collecting ammo and had guns.
The source told ABC News that detectives were working to obtain search warrants to determine if there were any co-conspirators in the foiled plot.
People who knew Caldera notified authorities that he was growing angry and was potentially violent recently.
Caldera and his wife were not cooperating with the investigation, the official told ABC News, but other family and co-workers spoke with investigators.
The official told ABC News that Caldera had voiced anger over the state and direction of the country.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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