An alleged terror plot to turn President Donald Trump’s White House UFC birthday bash into a bloodbath was stopped before explosive drones and snipers could be unleashed on the crowd, federal authorities said.
The alleged plot centered on Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 fight card, where thousands gathered on the White House South Lawn for Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Court papers described a chilling scenario: drones packed with explosives would strike the north side of the White House, forcing spectators and political targets to flee toward an exit where gunmen allegedly planned to open fire.
The alleged target list included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Elon Musk, according to the filings.
Federal authorities also said elected officials were named, including Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton and members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation.
Nineteen people allegedly took part in a chat where the attack was discussed, according to an affidavit. Fox News Digital put the number as high as 23.
Federal charges now name five alleged conspirators: Ohio teenager Tycen Proper, Missouri resident Daniel Eskridge, Nebraska’s Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez and Californians Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas.
🗳️Turning Point PAC is deploying the largest ballot-chasing operation in U.S. History to secure key battleground states. 🗳️ Keep our grassroots army in the field and protect future victories! ➡️➡️➡️ DONATE TODAY!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Each defendant faces at least one count of conspiracy to commit murder. The case began with a warning from inside one suspect’s own family.
Proper first drew attention when his mother reported concerns about his weapons purchases and the people he had been meeting online.
By the evening of June 10, Proper had been hospitalized over homicidal ideations. Ohio authorities later arrested him, and investigators say he acknowledged helping prepare for violence.
In later FBI interviews, Proper allegedly described knowing about a coordinated attack plan tied to the UFC event.
Family members described Proper as heavily online, and his father allegedly told police the teen had discussed “recons” and weekend meetups with online contacts.
CBS News reported, citing two law enforcement sources, that searches turned up weapons, tactical gear and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Investigators alleged Proper used roughly $3,000 in graduation money to buy equipment.
FBI task force officer Christopher Betts wrote that Proper’s mother described a new online circle whose members claimed to be “ex-military and Christian-based.”
Investigators say the conversations shifted to Signal as the White House event became the alleged target.
Proper allegedly placed the group’s pre-event meetup in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Proper allegedly tried to distance himself from the shooting phase, saying he “was not going to the protest in order to shoot people,” while also acknowledging that “several other members of the group were intent on violence.”
The alleged plan began with a staged “demonstration” north of the White House, followed by the drone strike phase.
“While the demonstration was taking place, the group would fly small, unmanned aircraft (i.e. drones) laden with unspecified explosive devices which would detonate over the north side of the UFC arena,” the affidavit said. “When the unmanned aircraft detonated, the intent was to force the crowd attending the UFC event and high-value targets (HVTs) to evacuate to the south.”
Gunmen would then fire on the evacuation route, Proper allegedly told investigators.
“According to Proper, this attack was designed to ‘jumpstart’ a revolution in the United States,” the document said.
Proper also described a revolutionary motive, claiming members believed the country “needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt” and objected to Epstein-linked figures holding power.
Proper’s arrest allegedly gave investigators a path into the usernames behind the encrypted chats, including one tied to Eskridge.
According to FBI Special Agent Andrew Brown, agents searched Eskridge’s home Saturday and found “additional evidence of his involvement in the conspiracy.”
In messages, Eskridge allegedly discussed turning his Missouri garage into a “safe house” and digging a shed-floor “bunker.”
Authorities said he showed interest in attacking members of Congress and the power grid.
The filings also point to maps showing attack positions and getaway routes.
“I’m liking it, now if we can keep it all coordinated it should work,” Eskridge allegedly wrote once plans were being discussed.
The search of Eskridge’s home allegedly produced multiple firearms, ballistic gear, loaded magazines and a gun belt.
Eskridge allegedly suggested the group needed $1,300 for “drones and charges.”
Investigators tied the alias “Shepherd” to Alvarez, the person Proper allegedly described as the group’s chief organizer.
According to FBI Special Agent Mercedes Smith, “Shepherd” allegedly mapped out drone launch points, sniper positions and an escape route through the Thomas Jefferson Memorial area.
Roa and Thomas were arrested in California after searches of their homes allegedly turned up evidence linking them to the plot.
Investigators said weapons and ammunition were found at both homes.
Roa allegedly said a vehicle problem kept him from reaching Washington, where he had planned to appear as a protester.
Relatives had noticed Roa growing more isolated, anxious and irritable while spending more time with weapons, FBI Special Agent Mark Prator wrote.
Thomas allegedly admitted helping plan the attack and encouraging others to join.
“Thomas said that the aim of this and subsequent attacks was to create enough chaos to bring about the overthrow of the U.S. government,” Prator said.
Blackburn called the alleged threat “chilling.” “I will not let maniacs like this one deter me from celebrating or serving this great nation, and I am grateful to law enforcement for keeping us safe,” Blackburn posted on X.
God bless @FBIDirectorKash for thwarting this alleged plot to attack the White House UFC event. It is incredibly chilling that this suspect named me as a potential target along with other lawmakers.
I will not let maniacs like this one deter me from celebrating or serving this…
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) June 16, 2026
On “Fox and Friends,” Vance said the FBI likely went public “because the scale of the planned attack is so significant.”
“Twenty-three people do not get to the point where they’re going to commit a mass terror incident in Washington, D.C. without some serious funding, without some serious coordination,” Vance said.
“That’s not a few guys doing crazy stuff, that is a coordinated planned terrorist plot,” he said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said multiple suspects were taken into custody after a rapid multi-state operation.
On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region – and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of… pic.twitter.com/PbWkIk1Lr5
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 16, 2026
U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran credited joint work with the FBI and said personnel worked “around the clock” before the event.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matt Quinn suggested the case was not over. “They were planning to attack the Freedom 250. … There are still suspects at large, and we’re going to work it until everyone’s been identified,” Quinn said.
He added, “The event itself, I am confident in saying, was never at risk due to the great investigative work.”
