FBI stopped – The FBI says it thwarted an alleged plot to attack UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, announcing June 16 arrests of at least five people tied to online plans involving firearms purchases, drones, and an alleged plan to kill officials. The investiga
On June 14. while President Donald Trump was preparing to spend his 80th birthday ringside at UFC Freedom 250. a construction site on the South Lawn of the White House drew spectators for a fight-night spectacle—and. authorities say. attention from people who believed they could turn it into a killing spree.
The FBI says it stopped that alleged plan “cold” before it could be carried out. announcing June 16 that it had halted a potential plot two days earlier and arrested at least five people tied to the scheme. FBI Director Kash Patel said the effort was disrupted. and federal officials described a timeline that hinged on one alarming detail inside a family home: a 19-year-old’s behavior and firearms purchases.
In their account. plans were shaped on social media and in group chats. then expanded into talk of drones. forced evacuations. and shooting at attendees as they fled. Multiple law enforcement agencies—including the FBI, Secret Service, and local authorities—intervened before the plan could be executed. Trump and Vice President JD Vance said they did not even hear about it until after the event.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “President Trump and the entire Administration are grateful to the FBI. Secret Service. and every heroic member of law enforcement who works tirelessly to keep us safe. Thanks to their efforts, UFC Freedom 250 will be remembered as one of the greatest sporting events in history.”.
Federal authorities still believe more suspects may be involved. A federal law enforcement official briefed on the matter told this outlet on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. The Justice Department said an investigation is ongoing, and as of June 17, no additional arrests had been announced.
The case has since centered on five people arrested in connection with the alleged plot, the detailed plans described in federal charging documents unsealed on June 16, and the confession authorities say came after the lead suspect was taken to a medical facility for homicidal ideations.
Five arrested in the alleged White House UFC plot
Federal charging documents unsealed on June 16 identify five people arrested in connection with the alleged plot to attack the UFC event at the White House.
They were identified as Tycen Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska.
Investigators said Proper became the main focus after his mother called local law enforcement on June 10. His mother’s tip led local Knox County officials to reach out to the FBI and Secret Service, which then helped trigger what would become a multistate investigation.
Proper allegedly communicated with a group chat of about 19 people on the app Signal. as well as other smaller group chats. where he discussed detailed plans to attack the event. His parents told officials they grew concerned because of recent firearms purchases. and because of what his mother described as ultra-religious. Christian. and ex-military online contacts.
Investigators said Proper confessed the attack plan during an interview at a medical facility, where he was taken for homicidal ideations. According to the complaint, Proper told investigators he planned to travel to the DC region and meet up with other group members to carry out the attacks.
The other people arrested all communicated with Proper online and in the group chats, authorities said. They were charged with various federal crimes. Proper faces charges including conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. attempted murder of an official. and firearms offenses. The other four were charged with conspiracy to commit murder. and Alvarez was also charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. according to the charging documents.
The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit murder, prosecutors said, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors also said conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Defense attorneys for Proper and Eskridge did not respond to requests for comment. An attorney for Alvarez declined to comment. It was not immediately clear if Roa and Thomas had attorneys who could comment on their behalf.
What investigators say the attackers planned
According to the charging documents, Proper told investigators the group planned to stage a protest outside the White House. Authorities said the plan involved flying small drones laden with explosives near the UFC event, forcing an evacuation. Then, the charging documents say, the group planned to shoot at attendees as they fled toward awaiting snipers.
The complaint also says Proper’s messages suggested the group target certain lawmakers based on their perceived support for Israel. Prosecutors said several of the men also embraced conspiracy theories about lawmakers, Jewish people, and other groups.
Alvarez and Thomas were also accused of leading conversations about the planning. Thomas told authorities. in an interview. that he saw himself as the planner and adviser for the group. an affidavit said. He said he hoped the attack—and subsequent attacks—would create chaos and bring about the overthrowing of the U.S. government.
Investigators said the group was to be split into different levels of participation. Thomas described different “tiers.” In a message cited in the criminal complaint. Thomas said Tier 1 participants would need to be prepared to break the law and go into hiding. Tier 2 would include getaway drivers and drone operators. Other tiers, authorities said, involved less direct support roles, including social media influencers.
The sequence in this case is built from two parallel tracks: online planning that federal documents describe in technical. tiered terms—and a family-driven turning point that investigators say kept the plan from ever reaching the day of execution. Proper’s mother’s call on June 10 helped pull federal agencies into a fast-moving investigation. and the arrests announced June 16 came after authorities said they confirmed the plan through an interview following Proper’s admission and medical evaluation.
Where the investigation stands now
As of June 17, the Justice Department said the investigation is ongoing, and no additional arrests had been announced. Federal authorities also said they believe more suspects may be involved.
Trump and JD Vance said they did not hear about the thwarted plot until after UFC Freedom 250. a detail that has drawn attention to how narrowly the investigation’s timing intersected with the event on the White House grounds. With charges now filed against the five arrested defendants. federal prosecutors will continue pursuing the alleged network behind the plans. including the role described for each tier and the communications that authorities said connected the group from across the country.
FBI UFC Freedom 250 White House plot Kash Patel Secret Service conspiracy to commit murder firearms offenses Signal chats drones with explosives Trump 80th birthday