Explosive drones and snipers were planned for attack at White House UFC event

A group of suspects planned to use explosive drones to force an evacuation at a UFC event on the White House grounds before snipers opened fire on government officials and others, according to federal officials and prosecutors.

The plot targeted UFC Freedom 250, which was held Sunday on the White House grounds. Federal prosecutors said the FBI learned of a potential threat on June 10 and arrested suspects over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska and California.

The men were identified as Tycen C. 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.

According to prosecutors, the group planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the event to force people to flee, then use snipers to fire on “high value targets” in the crowd. The targets included U.S. officials who were expected to attend the event.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the threat involved people outside the Washington area and was stopped through a multi-state operation involving the FBI, the Justice Department and other law enforcement agencies.

“Multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said. “This work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted.”

The investigation began after authorities in Ohio responded to a report involving Tycen Proper, whose mother had raised concerns about his recent conduct, including firearm purchases and online communications, according to a criminal complaint. His father told investigators that Proper had recently bought camping gear, ballistic plates, firearms, ammunition and extra magazines.

Proper was taken to a medical facility on June 10, and the FBI was contacted the next day. Authorities later searched his phone and found encrypted chats that included maps of the Washington area, possible sniper locations, drone launch points and other tactical planning, according to the complaint.

The complaint says the main encrypted chat included about 19 people, while smaller chats of four or five people were organized by role and location, including groups for shooters at different positions. Investigators said the chats also discussed escape routes, including a possible safe house and plans to move from the White House area toward the Potomac River after the attack.

During an interview, Proper allegedly told investigators that members of the group began communicating around March in a TikTok group called “Vanguard of the Old” before more serious members moved to Signal. He allegedly said the group believed the United States needed to be torn down and rebuilt.

Proper described a plan to meet in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before the event, prosecutors said. He allegedly told investigators that drones carrying explosives would be detonated near the UFC arena to push the crowd south, where gunmen would be waiting.

According to the complaint, Proper said the planned attack was meant to “jumpstart” a revolution in the United States.

Prosecutors said searches of the suspects’ homes and vehicles recovered firearms, ammunition, tactical gear and other equipment.

In California, agents said they seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition, a two-way radio and an infrared laser pointer from Bryan Roa’s residence and vehicle.

Michael Thomas, also from California, allegedly discussed the cost of drones and explosives in a group chat, writing on June 7 that “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges” and that the group needed the money “asap,” according to prosecutors. Investigators said they later seized a rifle, extended magazines, ammunition and a pistol from his home.

Prosecutors said members of the group also discussed assassinating members of Congress and prominent business executives, as well as possible attacks on power grids.

The defendants face charges that include conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds. If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each could face up to life in prison.