CHEYENNE – The Wyoming State Capitol was evacuated Tuesday, October 21, after a pedestrian found a suspected improvised explosive device on the building’s Great Seal and carried it inside, prompting a multi-agency response and hours-long closure.
A pedestrian discovered the object on the Great Seal in front of the Capitol on the morning of Oct. 21 and brought the suspect IED inside the Capitol building where Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers were alerted to its existence.
The building was evacuated at approximately 9:45 a.m. as a precaution while troopers secured the area.
Col. Tim Cameron, administrator of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, told Wyoming Public Media a bomb squad was on the way as of 11 a.m.
“This morning a citizen noticed something looked rather suspicious to him outside the Capitol,” Cameron said. “They carried the device in and gave it to an employee of the Capitol and notified the trooper on duty. Then pretty quickly from there, the Capitol was evacuated.”
Authorities did not initially elaborate on what was found except it appeared homemade and not a factory-produced object such as a military round, Wyoming Highway Patrol spokesperson Aaron Brown said.
“Whether it’s real or not, our biggest concern is safety of the public,” Brown said.
Device identified as modified firework
On Wednesday afternoon, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation announced the suspicious object was likely a “deconstructed live firework munition with a fuse.”
“The suspicious object has been rendered safe and analyzed by the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” DCI Commander Ryan Cox wrote in a news release.
Cox told WyoFile the device did not have the explosive capability to cause significant harm. “I don’t think it had the capabilities” to destroy a building or vehicle, he said.
Authorities are examining the incident as a potential violation of state statutes against using explosives to put another person in reasonable danger, which could be considered terrorism.
Response and investigation
Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, the Cheyenne Police Department, Wyoming DCI, the Joint EOD Team, Cheyenne Fire and Rescue, AMR, the FBI, the ATF and the Department of Homeland Security.
Gov. Mark Gordon was among those evacuated, along with State Treasurer Curt Meier and State Auditor Kristi Racines who were meeting with other members of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission in a basement-level room near the Capitol. The commission’s executive director, Anthony Apollo, was mid-sentence when the meeting was halted around 10 a.m.
Workers in two nearby state office buildings connected to the Capitol by an underground passageway sheltered in place before being allowed to leave through designated exits in the afternoon. The neighboring Herschler Building was placed on shelter-in-place status during the evacuation.
A joint bomb squad from the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and the Cheyenne Police Department swept the Capitol complex using K-9 units and drones.
At approximately 12:07 p.m., authorities closed 21st to 26th streets between Carey and Central avenues. At approximately 2:35 p.m., all streets except 26th were reopened, while 26th Street reopened around 4:30 p.m.
The Wyoming State Capitol complex was swept and confirmed all clear after the suspected improvised explosive device was found on the grounds. The Department of Administration and Information emailed state employees around 4 p.m. it was safe to leave the Herschler buildings. The Capitol remained closed for the rest of the day Tuesday and reopened Wednesday morning during regular business hours.
A Wyoming Highway Patrol official said no injuries were reported.
Subjects of interest identified and contacted
DCI began reviewing video evidence and identified two subjects of interest seen in surveillance footage near the Capitol during the early morning hours of Oct. 21.
On Oct. 24, DCI released descriptions and surveillance photos of the two individuals. The first subject was described as darker in complexion wearing a dark hoodie with a circle-shaped emblem on the front and sleeves, light-colored pants and dark-colored shoes with white shoelaces and a white toe box. The second subject has a lighter complexion and was wearing a dark-colored coat, possibly made by North Face, over a dark-colored shirt and dark pants while carrying a backpack.
Following the public request for information, both subjects of interest were successfully identified and contacted by DCI as of Monday, Oct. 27.
“The Wyoming DCI extends its profound gratitude to the residents and businesses who came forward with the identities, information, images and recordings of suspicious activity during the early morning hours of Oct. 21,” Commander Cox stated in a news release. “Public cooperation was vital to advancing this investigation.”
Based on the investigation to date, DCI assured the community there appears to be no continuing threat to the public.
No statements regarding intent or motive have been released by investigating entities. The investigation is ongoing, and further information will not be available until the investigation is concluded.
Authorities are seeking additional information about suspicious activity in the early morning hours of Oct. 21, particularly between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. Anyone with information should contact the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation through its website at wyomingdci.wyo.gov by clicking the dedicated Capitol incident link on the main page, or by calling 307-460-6504.
