Katy man taken into custody after ‘credible threat’ forces Texas Capitol evacuation

One person is in custody following a ‘credible threat’ made to the Texas State Capitol.

Robert Bowers, 45, was taken into custody after a traffic stop in La Grange, Texas.

The Capitol and surrounding grounds were temporarily closed Saturday afternoon after officials evacuated the area.

Officials say this threat was directed at lawmakers expected to attend a protest scheduled to take place at the Texas State Capitol Complex later Saturday.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the threat was identified earlier in the day by its Capitol Region.

The evacuation happened around 1 p.m., and both the Capitol building and its grounds remain temporarily closed.

On Monday, DPS shared an update on the situation, saying the suspect was located traveling on SH-71 in Fayette County and was stopped at around 1:30 p.m. Saturday for speeding.

During the stop, the suspect told the trooper he had a handgun in the vehicle. He was arrested on a misdemeanor traffic charge and taken into custody for further questioning about the threat. The gun was also seized.

2 Investigates was at a home in Katy linked to Bowers and was told by one man at the residence there was no one available to talk. Minutes later that man and a women exited the home and drove off. Approximately one hour later, a Texas DPS trooper and investigator showed up in two vehicles at the home but no one answered the door.

A neighbor of Bowers said he and his wife saw five DPS vehicles roll up to the home on Saturday night, “I just saw a bunch of a group of, state troopers, you know marked with their vests with all the family members, whoever lives in the house was outside talking to them,” said Shane Jaime.

Jaime, who himself is a retired member of law enforcement added, “I was shocked, because I hadn’t heard anything about it. I didn’t even know there was a threat to the Capitol until yesterday. This is a peaceful neighborhood we never have any issues.”

Right now, no charges have been filed in connection to the threat, but the investigation remains ongoing.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott spoke to Austin NBC-affiliate KXAN about the incident.

“What I understand was there was a person on the Capitol grounds with a gun who seemingly had the intent to do harm to a legislator. No more defined than that. If you’re on the Capitol grounds with a gun conveying that type of message, that’s a credible threat that has to be taken seriously. You obviously saw what happened in Minnesota. We need to make sure that nothing like that ever happens in the State of Texas,” he said.