The Texas State Capitol was partially evacuated Tuesday evening, Aug. 19, after violent threats were posted online, prompting state troopers to clear parts of the building “out of an abundance of caution.” The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has since confirmed it has identified a suspect, though no arrest has been made.
DPS said an individual posted a message on social media calling on others to “go to the Capitol building and take action by shooting and killing those who will not allow lawmakers to leave.” Troopers evacuated the Capitol around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and closed it to visitors for the rest of the day. The building reopened to the public the following morning at 9 a.m.
In an Aug. 20 update, DPS said the suspect had been identified but no charges have been filed. “The Department of Public Safety continues to investigate threats made by an individual and posted on social media. The individual has been identified; however, no arrests have been made at this time,” the agency stated.
The threats came as Rep. Nicole Collier, a Democrat from Fort Worth, remained in the House chamber in protest of the Republican-backed redistricting plan. A viral TikTok video appeared to show a user calling himself “gingerbeardmachine” urging followers to come armed to the Capitol and to “shoot” if DPS and lawmakers did not comply with demands to release Collier.
Capitol visitors were evacuated, but House Democrats said their members did not leave the chamber. Several DPS armed guards reportedly stood outside the chamber doors.
The threats also fueled criticism online that Democrats are increasingly linked to extreme rhetoric and violent behavior. Social media users pointed out that the suspect’s demands centered on Collier, a Democrat, and argued the incident reflected a broader pattern of hostility and lawlessness on the left.
One post on X read, “Is this domestic terrorist Democrat in custody yet? Two videos, one doxxing an ICE agent, the other telling people to go to the Texas Capitol and shoot Republicans if a Democrat representative doesn’t get released! Let’s make this terrorist famous by sharing!”
The Texas House Democratic Caucus condemned the threats, thanking troopers for their “swift and professional response.” “Violence and threats have no place in our democratic process, and we unequivocally condemn any threats against public servants or law enforcement, regardless of political differences,” the caucus said in a statement.
DPS said normal operations have since resumed at the Capitol and encouraged Texans to report suspicious activity via the iWatchTexas mobile app, online, or by calling 1-844-643-2251.
The Dallas Express reached out to DPS for confirmation on whether the individual was responsible for sparking the evacuation but did not receive a response.
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