When shots were fired shortly after noon Thursday at the State Capitol, the Texas Department of Public Safety immediately locked down the Capitol building.
The arrest was immediate; however, some employees inside at the time say the alerts thereafter were too slow.
KVUE informed Representative Eddie Rodgriguez, who was inside at the time of the shooting.
Seconds after the gunman fired, a trooper had him on the ground. Minutes later, troopers arrived in force, covering the Capitol grounds by foot and on bike.
Those on the Capitol lawn witnessed the quick arrest.
"He was resisting them severely,” said Ed Peno, Capitol visitor. “It took them a while. At that time we were told to vacate the area, so we left immediately."
As those on the outside ran for safety, Capitol staffers continued working normally for another 45 minutes until an e-mail was received at 12:49. Employees provided a copy to KVUE.
It states:
"The Capitol is currently on lockdown, so please stay in your office and lock your door until further notice."
By that time some employees had already made their way outside. From inside the walls and on the lawn, they waited until the lockdown was lifted at 2 p.m. as indicated in the second e-mail provided to KVUE.
It states:
"You may now enter and exit the Capitol building on foot at all entrances except the south entrance. If you are an employee, you must wear your ID badge visibly, and you may still be questioned."
Throughout the entire investigation, visitors continued to arrive on the grounds. A couple who spoke to KVUE News were surprised they had such easy access.
“We just noticed that there were a lot of police but we just popped a squat and had a picnic," said Mike Lozano, Capitol visitor. "Nobody stopped us at the gate. They just let us in. Even though it's one case, it could happen in the future. They should put up more security. It only takes one time for something to happen."
State Rep. Rodriguez released a statement regarding information about the shooting:
"I later learned that the Senate had been instructed to move about freely, while the House had been told to stay put. This is information that should have come to us accurately and quickly. The delays and confusion today strike me as a case of poor coordination between agencies. Our best information today came from the media, and that's not how it should be.
When there is a fire, we have an alarm and an exit strategy. In a situation where there is a shooter or a similar threat, we definitely need better, faster communication and an exit or containment plan. As a member of the House Committee on Public Safety, I can tell you this will be examined thoroughly."
It is perfectly legal for people with concealed carry licenses to take their guns inside the Capitol.
