Behind the terror plot that sought to foil the White House UFC match
By Easton Martin | June 16, 2026
Federal authorities disrupted a multi-phase terror plot targeting the historic UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House over the weekend, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday. Five American citizens have been arrested across multiple states and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, with one suspect facing additional charges of attempted murder of a government official.
The event took place on Sunday on the White House South Lawn, marking the first time a sanctioned professional sports match was held at the presidential mansion. It coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and was attended by numerous politicians, donors, and high-profile figures. Security agencies confirmed the event proceeded without incident and attendees were never in immediate danger due to early law enforcement intervention.
The investigation began on June 10 after a crucial tip from the family of 19-year-old Tycen Proper in Knox County, Ohio. Proper’s parents contacted local law enforcement after noticing their son had spent roughly 3,000 dollars in graduation money to stockpile firearms, body armor, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. His parents reported that he had quit his job and was preparing to travel to Virginia to meet people he had connected with online for an upcoming mission.
Local deputies and police transported Proper to a hospital for an emergency medical evaluation and immediately alerted the FBI. Agents later searched Proper’s phone, uncovering encrypted Signal chat groups that detailed a highly coordinated attack plan.
According to federal affidavits, the conspirators belonged to an online group called Vanguard of the Old, which propagated anti-government and ultra-religious sentiments. The group allegedly planned to deploy five teams of three individuals, each consisting of a sniper, a support operator, and a drone operator.
The first phase of the plot involved launching explosive-laden drones over the outdoor UFC arena to trigger widespread panic. Court documents show the conspirators planned to use sniper fire to target wealthy attendees and politicians fleeing through designated exit routes. Investigators also found aerial photographs of the complex, tactical maps, and a list of specific lawmakers marked as potential targets. Proper allegedly stated that the objective of the mass-casualty assault was to jumpstart a revolution in the United States.
A synchronized, multi-state operation over the weekend led to the arrests of all five core suspects. Along with Proper in Ohio, federal agents apprehended Michael Alan Thomas and Bryan Omar Roa in California, Daniel K. Eskridge in Missouri, and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez in Nebraska.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the disruptions on Tuesday morning, stating that the multi-state operation stopped the planned attacks cold. Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C. Quinn confirmed that his agency led the operational response, praising the investigative work that neutralized the threat days before the fighters stepped into the cage.
