Recently unsealed court affidavits reveal a detailed plan by a group plotting an attack at a UFC event held on the White House grounds. The plan allegedly involved drones, snipers, and crowd control strategies.
Documents against five suspects, reviewed by Newsweek, include maps, encrypted group chat screenshots, and photos of weapons and tactical gear. These materials outline a multi-phase attack aimed at politicians and other “high-value targets” attending the event in Washington, D.C.
Plan Details
Maps found by investigators show proposed positions for snipers and drones around the White House. Handwritten notes advised members to “position your teams in the purple dots” and suggested an “easy out into the river.” The group allegedly planned to use explosive drones above the UFC arena to force evacuations toward armed men.
Named targets included Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee, and Senators Jim Justice and Shelley Moore Capito, along with Representatives Carol Miller and Riley Moore from West Virginia. The affidavit for Tycen Proper, a 19-year-old from Ohio, lists charges including conspiracy against the United States. Text messages indicated the targets received money from “pro-Israel PACs.”
Suspects and Motivations
Proper and four others—Bryan Omar Roa, Michael Alan Thomas, Daniel Eskridge, and Abraham Alvarez—were part of a group described as ex-military and Christian. Proper’s mother informed the FBI of their ultra-religious and anti-government views, citing grievances about government corruption and other issues, according to FBI Special Agent Christopher S. Betts.
Proper was interviewed on June 11. Eskridge (online alias “Fulcrum”) was arrested on June 13 in Missouri. Alvarez (alias “Shepherd” and a group leader) was arrested on June 14 in Nebraska. Roa and Thomas were arrested in California.
Network and Planning
The affidavit reveals much about the conspiracy from Proper’s devices. He joined an online network first connecting via TikTok, later using encrypted messaging apps like Signal and SimpleX. The main chat had around 19 members, with smaller groups based on roles and location.
Members shared images of gear and discussed attack plans, including escape routes. Proper identified Roa and Thomas to FBI agents, who found social media images of Roa in tactical shooting practice in the desert. Roa and Thomas met at least once for training described as preparation for guerrilla warfare.
Evidence and Charges
Recovered evidence includes annotated maps, chat screenshots, and weapons photos. Maps show “counter sniper and drones” with markers indicating operative positions and escape routes. Other images depict reconnaissance and mission-planning, with annotations about waterways for extraction post-attack.
Evidence against the suspects includes labeled images “Sniper 1,” “Drone launch point and snipers nest,” and “Sniper 2 and drone launch point.” Photographs display rifles, ammo, body armor, and tactical gear seized in the investigation.
These plans coincide with UFC Freedom 250, where photos showed President Trump seated ringside with his wife. Senator Blackburn also appeared in pictures at the event with her grandson.
Legal Proceedings
The arrested suspects face multiple federal charges. Proper is charged with conspiracy, attempted murder of a federal officer, possession of a firearm for a crime of violence, and other offenses. Thomas and Roa face conspiracy to commit murder charges, along with Eskridge. Alvarez is charged with conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to commit murder. These charges carry potential life sentences under federal law, with mandatory time for firearm offenses upon conviction.