Texas state capitol forced to evacuate after threat against state lawmakers

A suspect has been arrested after making a “threat” against state lawmakers in Texas on Saturday, which forced the Texas Department of Public Safety to order an evacuation of the state capitol.

In a Monday press release, the Texas Department of Public Safety said that it was notified on Saturday of a “threat made against Texas state lawmakers.” Officials said that local authorities were contacted by a “concerned citizen,” who reported that a man was heading to a protest at the Texas State Capitol and was “planning to harm state lawmakers.”

“Out of an abundance of caution, DPS immediately evacuated the Texas State Capitol Building and Capitol Grounds and began to investigate the alleged threat-which was determined to be credible,” the Texas Department of Public Safety said. “Through the investigation, the suspect was located traveling on SH-71 in Fayette Co.”

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, law enforcement officials stopped the suspect’s vehicle for speeding at roughly 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The department noted that the suspect told a Department of Public Safety trooper during the traffic stop that he had a handgun in his vehicle.

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“The suspect was arrested on a misdemeanor traffic charge and taken into custody for further questioning about the threat. The gun was also seized,” the Texas Department of Public Safety said. “At this time, no charges related to the alleged threat against state lawmakers have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing. More information may be released if it becomes available.”

According to KXAN, two law enforcement sources confirmed that the suspect responsible for Saturday’s threat against state lawmakers is 45-year-old Robert Leroy Bowers. The law enforcement sources claimed that the 45-year-old’s vehicle was flagged by a regional intelligence alert. The sources also said that Bowers is in custody at the Fayette County Jail and has been charged with operating a vehicle with only one plate.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick explained that while state officials receive “dozens of threats” each month that mostly are traced to people who went “too far” in emails or phone calls and “quickly recant” when they are confronted, all of the threats “have to be taken seriously.”

“There’s a difference between free speech complaints, which we welcome, and making death threats,” Patrick tweeted. “The latter can be a crime.”