The FBI disrupted an alleged plot to attack the UFC America 250 event on the White House lawn after local authorities in Ohio received a warning from the parents of a 19-year-old suspect who had recently bought firearms, ammunition, and tactical gear, according to a federal criminal complaint.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents and law enforcement partners learned on June 10 about a potential threat involving people outside the National Capital Region.
“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,” Patel said in a post on X.
The criminal complaint, filed in the Southern District of Ohio, names Tycen Proper as a defendant and states there is probable cause to believe he committed conspiracy, attempted murder of a U.S. officer or employee, and firearms offenses.
Proper, 19, admitted during an FBI interview that he had been planning with others to carry out a coordinated attack against the U.S. government during the UFC event scheduled for June 14 on the White House lawn, according to the complaint.
Local Tip Sparked Case
Knox County sheriff’s deputies and Danville police officers responded June 10 to a disturbance call from Proper’s mother, who expressed concern about his recent firearms purchases and online communications, according to the complaint.
Proper’s father told officers that Proper had recently met people online and had been planning “recons” with them. He also said Proper had acquired camping gear, food, ballistic plates, a new shotgun, a rifle, “lots” of ammunition, extra magazines, and plate carriers.
The family voluntarily gave law enforcement equipment that included boxes of ammunition, two plate carriers with AR-style magazines, an AR-style rifle, and a bullpup rifle painted with an American flag, according to the complaint.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office took Proper to a local hospital after submitting an emergency admission application based on homicidal ideations. The sheriff’s office contacted the FBI on June 11.
Drones And Snipers
Investigators searched Proper’s iPhone and found Signal chats they said laid out plans for an attack in Washington, D.C. The chats included maps of the National Capital Region, possible sniper positions, possible drone launch sites, and other tactical planning, according to the complaint.
The group allegedly planned to stage a demonstration north of the White House while flying drones carrying unspecified explosive devices over the north side of the UFC arena.
Investigators said Proper described a second phase in which the blasts would push the crowd and “high value targets” south toward staged snipers and additional shooters near an evacuation point. Proper said the targets included wealthy people and politicians and that the group designed the attack to “jumpstart” a revolution in the United States.
Investigators said Proper’s phone showed a main Signal chat with approximately 19 people and smaller role-based chats of four to five people. The chats also discussed escape routes, a potential “safe house,” and travel toward the Potomac River after the attack, according to the complaint.
Other Suspect Reported
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported Tuesday that a federal arrest affidavit identified Michael Alan Thomas, a California man, as one of the alleged organizers of the alleged plot.
Melugin reported that Thomas told authorities he believed elites who sacrifice and eat children run the U.S. government, had involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, and have President Donald Trump’s protection.
Patel said the investigation remains ongoing.
“We are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens – particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here,” Patel said.
The UFC America 250 event took place June 14 on the White House lawn. Before the event, the complaint said the President of the United States planned to attend and that politicians, potentially including members of Congress and Cabinet officials, would likely attend.
