Texas state lawmakers warned of 'credible threats' at anti-Trump protest after Minnesota shootings

Texas state lawmakers planning to attend an anti-Trump rally in Austin face “credible threats,” the Texas Department of Safety warned Saturday afternoon, and the Texas Capitol and surrounding grounds were evacuated. 

The DPS alert went out to state legislators and legislative staffers, the Texas Tribune reported, hours after two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot Saturday morning, resulting in two deaths. 

Several federal, state and city elected officials were scheduled to speak at a protest in downtown Austin at 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

Jeffrey Clemmons, communications director for state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat, told the Tribune that DPS had arrested a “copycat person who was going to agitate the protest.” Clemmons had no more details. Ekhardt is among the elected officials scheduled to speak at the event. A DPS spokesperson confirmed the arrest, and said there was no additional active threat.