Police commonly take out individuals firing weapons and endangering the public, especially at government buildings. The shooting may be used as an excuse to install naked body scanners at the Capitol. In 2008, authorities installed a body scanner at a courthouse in Castle Rock, Colorado. Earlier this month, a man went on a shooting rampage at a federal courthouse in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Shots fired at Texas Capitol; no injuries reported
By JAY ROOT AP Writer © 2010 The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — A man with a handgun fired several shots Thursday on the Texas Capitol's south steps, ...
Shots fired at Texan capitol building
Herald Sun - 31 minutes ago
SHOTS were fired at the Texan state capitol in Austin, officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety said today. The Austin American-Statesman ...
Police: Shots Fired on Steps of Texas Capitol
FOXNews - 38 minutes ago
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas state police have taken a person in custody after gunshots were fired on the south steps of the state Capitol. ...
Man in custody after firing shots at Texas CapitolBy JAY ROOT
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 21, 2010; 2:59 PM
AUSTIN, Texas -- A man fired several shots into the air Thursday while standing on the Texas Capitol's south steps before throwing down his handgun as state troopers closed in and tackled him, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
Nobody was wounded in the shooting, department spokesman Tom Vinger said. The 24-year-old suspect from the Houston area was taken to the Travis County Jail and faces felony charges of deadly conduct, Vinger said. His name wasn't immediately released.
The shots rang out just after noon, and officers with rifles quickly swarmed the scene. More than a half dozen Department of Public Safety cars quickly appeared, and troopers quickly surrounded the building. The Capitol was on lockdown as officials searched as a precaution.
"I thought he was shooting at the birds. I ran," said Veronica Briseno, a tourist from Mexico who said she saw the shooter fire his weapon into the air.
Jill Magid, an artist from New York City, said she was just inside the front doors of the Capitol when the shots were fired. She ran out the doors in time to see troopers holding a man down on the ground.
"They were all over him," Magid said. "I could hear him saying 'my hands are up.'"
Gov. Rick Perry was not in the building at the time, his office said, and many lawmakers were away from Austin because the legislature was not in session.
Some lawmakers were inside the Capitol, though. House Speaker Joe Straus' office said he was stuck in the building while it was on lockdown. Sen. Leticia Van De Putte wrote on her Twitter page that she was also inside.
Republican Sen. Dan Patrick said on his Twitter page that he wasn't in the office but his staff called security.
"An individual came into my Austin Senate office today acting strangely, staff called security, moments later shots fired on Capitol steps," he wrote.
Lorne Kozak, of Edmonton, Alberta in Canada, was visiting the Capitol grounds with his 10-year-old son Spencer when they heard gunfire. He said they were about 30 yards from the steps when the shots rang out.
"What I heard was four rifle shots," Kozak said. "There appeared to be a cluster of officers attending to someone on the steps and more officers kept pouring out of the building and of course the sirens."
They snapped a few quick pictures before walking away when police told them to leave.
DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said the Capitol was expected to be reopened to the public later Thursday afternoon.
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Associated Press Writers April Castro and Jim Vertuno contributed to this report.
DPS Officials with the Department of Public Safety said shots were fired at the south steps of the capitol Thursday afternoon.
Officials said at approximately 12:15 p.m. there was a male suspect that fired several rounds with a handgun.
According to DPS, the suspect is a 24-year-old male from the Houston area.
They aren't sure where the he was firing the shots, but he is in custody and investigating officials have the weapon.
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No injuries have been reported.
Officials aren't sure if the male suspect acted alone.
The capitol building is still on lock-down. That's expected to continue through tomorrow.
News 8 has a crew on the scene and will continue to bring you more information.
AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) - Texas state police said one person is in custody after gunshots were fired on the south steps of the Texas Capitol.
Luckily, no injuries are reported. The suspect is described as a 24-year-old man from the Houston area. He was taken into custody immediately after the shooting. The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time.
More than half a dozen Texas Department of Public Safety cars descended on the capitol Thursday afternoon, and officers toting rifles surrounded the building.
The officers were in the process of securing the Capitol's third floor around noon, said Tristan Letscher, police communications operator for the DPS.
The building is in lockdown and will remain shut down for the rest of the day. The offices in the capitol are being evacuated. A witness said he heard several shots fired.
Luckily, no injuries are reported. The suspect is described as a 24-year-old man from the Houston area. He was taken into custody immediately after the shooting. The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time.
More than half a dozen Texas Department of Public Safety cars descended on the capitol Thursday afternoon, and officers toting rifles surrounded the building.
The officers were in the process of securing the Capitol's third floor around noon, said Tristan Letscher, police communications operator for the DPS.
The building is in lockdown and will remain shut down for the rest of the day. The offices in the capitol are being evacuated. A witness said he heard several shots fired.
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