FBI Foils Alleged Drone Plot Targeting Trump at White House UFC Event
Federal authorities have arrested five men in connection with an alleged plot to attack President Donald Trump and other high-profile figures during the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on June 14, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday. The plot was disrupted after the mother of the youngest suspect contacted local police, triggering a multi-state FBI operation.
The suspects — Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Nebraska — allegedly planned to fly explosive-laden drones over the UFC arena on the South Lawn, force a mass evacuation, and then ambush fleeing high-value targets with sniper fire, according to the Department of Justice.
How the Plot Was Uncovered
The investigation began on June 10 when Proper’s mother contacted the Knox County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio, expressing concern about her son’s recent firearms purchases, online communications, and conduct. Officers dispatched to the family home in Danville found thousands of rounds of ammunition, an AR-style rifle, and a bullpup rifle painted with an American flag. Proper was taken to a hospital for emergency admission based on “homicidal ideations,” according to court documents cited by NBC News.
The following day, the sheriff’s office contacted the FBI. During an interview at the medical facility, Proper allegedly admitted to planning a coordinated attack at the UFC event and identified other members of the group through encrypted chat applications.
The Attack Plan
Prosecutors allege the conspirators intended to detonate explosive-laden drones over the north side of the UFC arena, forcing panicked attendees and “high-value targets” to flee to a southern evacuation point. There, five sniper teams were positioned to ambush fleeing officials, according to charging documents detailed by Fox News.
The snipers were instructed to “initiate their part of the plan eliminating HVTs first then the retaliatory forces such as SS [Secret Service], NG [National Guard], and swat.”
Investigators allege that Alvarez, identified as the online ringleader using the name “Shepherd,” listed intended targets in an encrypted group chat using coded references: “1” for President Trump, “2” for Vice President JD Vance, “N” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and “Musk” for Elon Musk. Proper had compiled a target list of 46 individuals, including politicians and celebrities.
Safe Houses, Bunkers, and Jail-Break Plans
The group allegedly prepared for an overwhelming law enforcement response following their planned attack. Eskridge told members his rural six-acre property in Missouri would serve as a safe house, complete with a hidden bunker concealed beneath a shed floor, according to court documents. Alvarez identified an abandoned brick church in Nebraska as a secondary fallback location.
The conspirators also discussed contingency plans for members who might be captured. “We will try to break them out of jail if we need to,” Thomas said in an encrypted group chat, as reported by ABC News.
Ideological Motivations
According to court documents, the alleged plot was driven by a mix of extreme anti-government ideology, antisemitic beliefs, and satanic conspiracy theories. Thomas told FBI agents he believed the U.S. government is controlled by a secret elite that sacrifices children. Proper made antisemitic comments on Facebook and sympathetic remarks about Adolf Hitler.
Proper told investigators the group believed “the United States needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt,” and that their coordinated attack would help bring about a revolution.
The Arsenal
A significant portion of the group’s arsenal was acquired by Proper, who allegedly quit his job and spent roughly $3,000 of his graduation money on firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, ballistic plates, and two rifles. The group also attempted to crowdsource $1,300 to purchase drones and explosive charges, with Thomas writing in a group chat: “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap.”
Security Response and Aftermath
The FBI conducted a multi-state operation over the weekend of June 13-14, executing search warrants in Ohio, California, Missouri, and Nebraska. Weapons and tactical gear were seized from multiple locations. The UFC Freedom 250 event proceeded as scheduled with an enormous law enforcement presence, including road blocks, fencing, and hundreds of federal, state, and local officers.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the rapid response, stating: “Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold.”
Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran noted that “the landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees.” The U.S. Capitol Police investigated nearly 15,000 concerning statements targeting lawmakers in 2025, up from more than 9,000 the previous year, according to Bloomberg.
President Trump, asked about the alleged plot at the G7 summit in France, said: “I haven’t heard about it. The attack that I watched was the fighters.”
What’s Next
The investigation remains ongoing, with court documents referencing 19 people suspected to have taken part. The defendants face charges including conspiracy to commit murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.