A 40-year-old man named Benny Caldera Jr. was arrested at his doorstep before he could fire a single shot.
Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT officers moved in at 3 a.m. on Wednesday. His home in Converse, just outside San Antonio, is where they took him into custody. Authorities revealed the details on Thursday after receiving a tip about a planned assault. Caldera told a friend he was going to “shoot up” the building. He sent a chilling message before his arrest. The Daily Wire reported the message said: “I love you, if you don’t see me again … I am going to the Capitol and I am going to shoot it up.”
Arrest documents show he was angry at AIPAC. The Daily Wire reported that Caldera told his friend “these people have to be exterminated.” This specific threat triggered a massive law enforcement response. The Texas Department of Public Safety said they received “credible information about an individual planning a violent attack” for Thursday. The tip came in Tuesday evening. Officers acted fast and secured the suspect before the day began.
A felony charge of making a terroristic threat against a public servant faces Caldera. He was held on a $75,000 bond. According to the Washington Examiner, he was released from Bexar County Jail just before 7 a.m. on Wednesday. This is not his first run-in with the law. Records show he was arrested in 2023 and 2024 for carrying an unlicensed firearm. The New York Post noted that officials did not share all details of the plot because the investigation is still active. Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressed the threat on social media. Texas will NOT tolerate threats of violence against our Capitol, he stated clearly. The Capitol remained open during regular hours, but security was increased.
Federal agents joined the local team to make the arrest. FBI Director Kash Patel praised the speed of the operation. He posted on X, saying, “Outstanding work by @TxDPS.” He added that the team stood “shoulder-to-shoulder with our state and local partners.”
Patel noted that the response time was rapid. “Within HOURS of the tip, @TxDPS had the main suspect in custody,” he wrote. He warned that anyone who threatens Americans will face swift action from law enforcement. State officials notified lawmakers about the danger early Wednesday. Texas Senate Secretary Patsy Spaw sent an email to staff. She referred to Caldera as the “main suspect” in the incident. No other arrests have been made yet.
The Washington Examiner reports that the investigation remains ongoing. State officials said security would stay high at the building as a precaution.
