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Federal authorities have charged five men in connection with an alleged plot to attack a UFC event held outside the White House, accusing the group of planning to deploy explosive-laden drones over the crowd before opening fire on fleeing attendees.
The Justice Department announced Tuesday that arrests were made in California, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio following what officials described as a multi-state terrorism investigation that disrupted the alleged scheme before it could be carried out.
The UFC event, hosted Sunday on White House grounds as part of celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary, was attended by President Donald Trump, senior administration officials and thousands of spectators.
According to court filings unsealed Tuesday, investigators uncovered detailed discussions among the suspects involving drone launch sites, escape routes and potential targets, including government officials and wealthy attendees.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post that authorities had taken “multiple individuals” into custody in connection with a “potential threat” to the event.
“Following a multi-state operation, the allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel wrote.
Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C. Quinn said the event itself was never in danger because of the investigation.
“The event was never at risk due to the great investigative work,” Quinn told reporters Tuesday, though he noted authorities continue to investigate whether additional individuals were involved.
Investigation Began With Family Warning
Federal authorities say the investigation began after the mother of 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio contacted law enforcement with concerns about her son’s recent behavior.
According to an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force affidavit, Proper had purchased firearms and ammunition and was communicating online with individuals expressing anti-government views.
Family members reportedly told investigators that Proper had made troubling statements in recent months, including antisemitic remarks and comments praising Adolf Hitler.
Authorities interviewed Proper four days before the UFC event after local law enforcement sought an emergency mental health evaluation. During questioning, investigators say Proper admitted discussing plans to attack individuals at the event.
Court documents allege Proper described a plan in which drones carrying explosives would be flown over the north side of the venue before armed participants targeted people fleeing the blasts.
Investigators say the alleged goal was to spark a broader revolution against the U.S. government.
Signal Chats Revealed Operational Planning
Federal agents say evidence recovered from Proper’s phone included Signal messaging chats involving approximately 19 participants discussing logistics for the attack.
The messages allegedly included conversations about:
- Drone deployment locations
- Escape routes from Washington, D.C.
- Potential government targets
- Attacks on critical infrastructure
- Firearms and operational planning
Authorities charged:
- Tycen Proper, 19, of Ohio
- Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of California
- Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of California
- Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Missouri
- Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Nebraska
Proper faces charges including conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States and attempted murder of federal officials. The other defendants face conspiracy-related charges tied to the alleged attack plan.
Court filings allege Alvarez used the online handle “Shepherd” and provided operational guidance, including staging areas and escape plans.
Investigators also allege some participants discussed targeting a U.S. senator because of her support for Israel and explored attacking portions of the electrical grid.
Security Officials Defend Response
The case drew attention after Patel publicly disclosed the arrests Tuesday morning.
Quinn later emphasized that the Secret Service deliberately withheld details of the investigation before the event to avoid compromising security operations.
“In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation and the security plan, we chose not to leak it,” Quinn said.
When asked whether Patel’s public comments had prematurely revealed details of the investigation, Quinn declined to directly criticize the FBI director.
“I’m not going to comment on who or what,” Quinn said. “I’m going to tell you that we, the Secret Service, made a conscious decision to maintain the integrity of the security plan and the ongoing investigation.”
Trump Reacts
President Trump said Tuesday that he had not been briefed on the alleged plot before reporters asked him about it while he was attending the Group of Seven summit in France.
“The attack that I watched were the fighters,” Trump joked.
The UFC event represented an unprecedented spectacle on White House grounds. Organized by UFC CEO and longtime Trump ally Dana White, the event featured championship fights, military flyovers and a fireworks display near the National Mall.
Federal officials have not disclosed how close the alleged plot came to execution, but investigators say the case remains active and additional arrests remain possible.
Broader Security Concerns
The case highlights growing concerns among federal law enforcement agencies about online radicalization and the use of encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate extremist activity.
Authorities say the suspects initially connected through TikTok before moving conversations to Signal, where planning allegedly became more detailed.
Federal prosecutors argue the evidence demonstrates a coordinated effort to target government officials and civilians at one of the highest-profile public events held in Washington this year.
The investigation remains ongoing.
