Five men planned a bloody sniper attack on a White House fight night, feds say

Five men planned a bloody sniper attack on a White House fight night, feds say

The FBI arrested five men across four states who allegedly used drones and snipers to target leaders at a UFC event.

The Stakes

We trust our public spaces to be safe. But federal agents say five men planned to turn a historic sports event at the White House into a scene of mass terror.

What Happened

The Department of Justice arrested five men this week. They say the men planned a coordinated attack on the UFC Freedom 250 fight last Sunday.

Their plan was simple and cruel. They wanted to fly drones loaded with bombs into the arena to start a panic.

As the crowd fled, rooftop snipers planned to shoot government officials. Police arrested the men in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California before they could strike.

What the evidence shows

• Five suspects are in custody: Tycen Proper, Bryan Roa, Michael Thomas, Daniel Eskridge, and Abraham Alvarez.
• One text message shows a suspect asking the group for $1,300 to buy drones and bomb parts.
• Police found rifles, handguns, tactical gear, and thousands of bullets in searches of their homes.
• The group used encrypted chat apps to plan the attack starting in March 2026.
• Members planned to meet in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before launching the attack.

The Bigger Question

These five men lived thousands of miles apart. Yet they managed to find each other online and build a plan to attack the White House.

How does a teenager from Ohio team up with men across the country for a plot like this? We have to ask how online spaces turn lonely people into dangerous groups so quickly.

The Other Side

The suspects have not yet made their case in court or entered their pleas. Their defense lawyers will likely argue that online talk is not a real crime, or that the plan was just a fantasy. Still, the government has texts about buying bombs, maps, and physical guns, which makes that a tough defense to prove.

What Happens Now

This plot will likely change how we secure large outdoor events. Expect to see much more anti-drone tech at stadiums and matches soon.

For regular fans, it means longer lines and more security checks. But it also shows that police are watching these online spaces closely.

What We Still Don't Know

• Who were the specific politicians or leaders they wanted to kill?
• How did federal agents first get inside their secret group chat?
• Did anyone else help fund or plan this attack?

Source Note

Information comes from the U.S. Department of Justice press release. All charges are allegations - the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.