AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Department of Public Safety says a concerned citizen contacted local authorities to report a man was "on his way to the protest," at the State Capitol in Austin Saturday and was "planning to harm state lawmakers” attending a protest there.
The timeline unfolded in a new statement DPS issued Monday, saying it determined the threat was “credible” and closed the Capitol and surrounding grounds out of precaution. While DPS has not yet named the person connected to the alleged threat, KXAN has independently confirmed through multiple law enforcement sources he is Robert Leroy Bowers, 45, of Katy.
On Monday, KXAN’s media partner, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC, captured video of DPS investigators searching Bowers’ home. DPS said no charges related to the threat have been filed, but the investigation is ongoing.
Just hours before Saturday’s planned “No Kings” protest against President Trump at the Capitol, DPS located the “suspect” on SH-71 in Fayette County.
“Troopers stopped the suspect vehicle for speeding,” the statement read. “During the traffic stop, the suspect in the case… told the Trooper he had a handgun in the vehicle.”
Bowers was charged with a misdemeanor for only having one license plate on his vehicle and booked into the Fayette County Jail. DPS said the “suspect” was “taken into custody for further questioning about the threat” and that his “gun was also seized.”
In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott and the DPS director Monday, the Texas House Democratic Caucus demanded answers about steps to protect legislators and resources to monitor political extremism. The threat happened the same day two Minnesota state lawmakers were gunned down at their homes. One of those lawmakers and her husband died as a result – something Abbott referenced in his remarks Monday, saying there is a need to "make sure that nothing like that ever happens in the state of Texas."
“So DPS is on heightened alert,” Abbott said during a press conference. “They will work to ensure that not just members of the legislature, but candidly, anybody in the public is going to be free from some type of deranged attack like that."
Abbott told reporters the threat involved a person with a gun on Capitol grounds making threats to lawmakers. But DPS officials did not mention a suspect at the Capitol.
Abbott's office has not yet responded to questions about his statement.
Bowers had no bail set in Fayette County Saturday, and KXAN is now working to learn more about his background and if he is still in custody there.
KXAN’s David Barer and Dalton Huey contributed to this report.
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