Armed man on rooftop at BP MS150 event may reveal increased security

Reader David Applegate shared this photo of what he says is a sniper on a rooftop in Austin at the BP MS 150 finish line. Reader David Applegate shared this photo of what he says is a sniper on a rooftop in Austin at the BP MS 150 finish line. Image 1 of / 108 Caption Close Armed man on rooftop at BP MS150 event may reveal increased security 1 / 108 Back to Gallery

A man who said he rode in the BP MS150 last month claimed he saw law enforcement snipers near the event's finish line and was glad they were there.

David Applegate wrote in an email that he read a Chron.com article about a photograph sent to the newspaper Tuesday that purportedly shows a person in military-style dress with a rifle atop the Bullock Texas State History Museum in downtown Austin on April 21 high above the event's finish line.

Applegate said he saw two snipers on the rooftop and sent Chron.com two photos of them Wednesday. The photos, he added, were not altered.

Austin police said the cycling event's organizers requested heightened security in light of the Boston Marathon bombings, which occurred about week earlier on April 15. Three people died and more than 200 others were wounded in the bombing.

Officials with Austin police said they do not comment on security measures, but they added that enough officers were in place to provide for safety at the event.

Gena Hyde, regional director of communications for the National MS Society, said she was told added security would be in place, but she does not know the details of the added security.

Hyde said that in light of the bombings in Boston, her team had a discussion with local state and federal law enforcement agencies along the route of the event. She said they reviewed security measures in place and the agencies told them they would add other beefed-up security.

Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed late Tuesday that an officer with the agency was in the photo. Tom Vinger, a DPS spokesman, offered no other information, saying the agency does not discuss details of their security plans.

Applegate, who claimed to be a "card-carrying" member of the NRA, wrote in his email that he was grateful the snipers were there.

"I am thankful," Applegate wrote, "that our state and the staff at the MS 150 took the time to increase security and make our ride safe."