FBI Details Explosive Drone and Sniper Plot Targeting UFC Freedom 250 at White House

Washington, D.C. – Federal authorities have arrested five individuals and charged them in connection with a sophisticated plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn using explosive-laden drones, snipers, and a follow-up ground assault, the FBI announced on June 16, 2026.

The 5 arrested, all U.S. citizens with ties to radical activist networks, are:

• Tycen Proper, 19, of Ohio — identified as a central figure who allegedly coordinated reconnaissance, modified commercial drones for explosive payloads, and discussed targeting buildings near the event to trigger mass panic.
• Daniel Eskridge, of Missouri — allegedly involved in acquiring firearms, ammunition, and tactical gear, and planning sniper positions to fire on fleeing crowds.
• Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, of Nebraska — accused of participating in encrypted communications to assign roles and scouting potential escape or staging routes.
• Bryan Omar Roa and Michael Alan Thomas, both of California — allegedly assisted in preparing improvised explosive devices suitable for drone delivery and planning the secondary wave to breach White House security gates during the chaos.

Court documents describe a multi-phase operation. The group planned to deploy drones loaded with explosives to strike nearby structures, causing panic among the thousands of attendees (including military members and first responders) and funneling crowds toward pre-staged sniper positions. A follow-up assault team was then to exploit the disorder to storm White House gates. Preparations included encrypted Signal group chats, site reconnaissance, weapons acquisition (AR-15 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition), and testing of drone modifications.

The FBI detected the threat on June 10 through monitoring of online communications and human intelligence. A rapid multi-state operation involving 12 FBI field offices led to the arrests before any devices or attacks could be executed. No explosives were successfully deployed, and the UFC event proceeded safely on June 14.

FBI Director Kash Patel credited swift interagency coordination with stopping the plot “cold.” Officials noted the suspects held anti-government views and were motivated in part by conspiracy theories, with no known foreign ties at this stage. The investigation into potential additional co-conspirators — up to 20-23 individuals reportedly discussed in chats — remains active.

This foiled attack highlights the persistent domestic threats to major national events and the effectiveness of proactive intelligence work in protecting high-profile gatherings. The defendants face serious federal charges, including conspiracy to commit terrorism and attempted murder of federal officers. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The successful disruption ensured the safety of attendees at the patriotic Freedom 250 celebration on the White House grounds.