A far-left suspect was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Texas lawmakers, forcing the evacuation of the state Capitol during a planned anti-Trump protest. In La Grange, about 65 miles southeast of Austin, the suspect, who was described as “far left-leaning,” was apprehended during a traffic stop. The threat coincided with the shooting of two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, heightening security concerns. The Capitol was temporarily evacuated but reopened later, allowing the protest to continue as planned.
Swift Arrest Following Serious Threat
A credible threat against state lawmakers who were scheduled to attend the “No Kings” protest at the Texas Capitol was promptly neutralized by Texas law enforcement officials. Authorities said the suspect was politically “far left-leaning,” and he was caught during a traffic stop in La Grange, Texas, which is about 65 miles southeast of Austin. Though the Capitol building and surrounding grounds were evacuated as a precaution, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) took the threat seriously enough to order their evacuation. Later, in the afternoon, the facility was reopened once the situation was judged secure.
Tensions were high at the time of the arrest because of the Minnesota shooting of two lawmakers from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party, which was described as a “targeted attack” by a masked shooter impersonating a police officer. A list of possible targets was reportedly found in the suspect’s car, indicating a premeditated and intentional attack as opposed to a random threat. Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows quickly denounced the planned attack and commended the DPS for their protective measures in averting what might have been a catastrophic event.
⚠️ ALERT: Texas State Capitol evacuated during “No Kings” protest due to “credible threat against state lawmakers” pic.twitter.com/e0SRQJAOCl
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) June 14, 2025
Political Tensions and Security Plans
Despite the security risk, Gene Wu, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, organized the “No Kings” protest, which went ahead according to schedule. Thousands of people attended the protest, which was a part of a nationwide anti-Trump rally at the Texas Capitol. Several state and federal representatives were among the Austin Democrats who took part in the demonstration and spoke out against the Trump administration while advocating for public officials’ safety and civility. Despite authorities’ efforts to ensure everyone’s safety in the wake of the credible threat, the protest went on.
“Acts or threats of violence against elected officials over political differences have no place in our society and will be met with zero tolerance.” – Dustin Burrows
In response to the threat and the recent violence in Minnesota, Texas House Democrats sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott urging enhanced protections for lawmakers and calling for a condemnation of violent political rhetoric. The letter linked the Minnesota attacks and past violence to rhetoric from President Donald Trump. Republicans countered by attributing an attempted assassination of Trump to rhetoric from former president Joe Biden, highlighting the partisan nature of the debate over political violence and responsibility.
Texas DPS evacuates state capitol after identifying a "credible threat" related to No Kings protest https://t.co/TsbHAyymot
— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) June 14, 2025
The Need for Practical Responses
The gravity of the situation was underlined by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who pointed out that threats of death against public servants have increased in frequency. Today, serving in public life unfortunately involves receiving death threats. Although lawmakers rarely discuss it, the state receives dozens of threats every month, according to Patrick. “There is a difference between making death threats and filing free speech complaints, which we welcome,” he added, further elaborating on the distinction between criminal threats and protected speech. The latter can be a crime.”
Governor Greg Abbott emphasized the significance of enabling elected officials to carry out their duties without fear or intimidation and joined other officials in denouncing the violence in Minnesota. The Texas Capitol incident has reignited debates regarding how to strike a balance between preserving public access to government buildings and putting in place sufficient security measures to safeguard public servants.