San Antonio Area Man Charged with a Firearm Offense After Allegedly Threatening State Capitol
SAN ANTONIO / Thursday, October 1, 2026 – A Bexar County man was arrested and charged federally for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number after he allegedly made a threat to attack the Texas State Capitol, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, on Sept. 29, Benny Caldera Jr., 40, of Converse, allegedly told another individual that he was going to the Capitol and would “shoot it up,” specifically expressing his anger toward the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). A criminal complaint alleges Caldera Jr. said of AIPAC, “These people have to be exterminated.” The complaint further alleges Caldera Jr. stated in a recorded conversation that he made up his mind and said goodbye to his parents.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) received a report of Caldera Jr.’s alleged threats on Tuesday and obtained a state arrest warrant and a search warrant for his residence. The FBI assisted by conducting surveillance. TX DPS agents arrested Caldera Jr. inside the residence on Wednesday.
During the search of Caldera Jr.’s residence, TX DPS Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents allegedly located a .357 revolver loaded with six rounds and a 12-gauge shotgun in his master bedroom closet along with six 9mm rounds. The criminal complaint alleges that the serial number on the side of the revolver frame was obliterated and appeared to have been filed off.
Caldera Jr. is scheduled for his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“This defendant is in federal custody today thanks to a perceptive and concerned citizen seeing something and saying something,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Had the alleged threats not been taken seriously and reported to law enforcement, we could have a very different and tragic story to tell today. I appreciate the diligent efforts of our partners at Texas DPS and at the FBI, and I again urge everyone to take threats like this seriously and report them appropriately. You never know the impact you may have and the number of lives you could save.”
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from TX DPS.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lathrop is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas
