Eight Charged in Alleged Drone and Sniper Plot at White House UFC Event

Eight men have been indicted on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges for an alleged plot to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on June 14, 2026, with drones and snipers, targeting President Donald Trump and other high-profile figures. The indictment, returned in Ohio, charges all eight with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory Source: AP News.

The Plot

According to federal prosecutors, the group began planning in May, amassing firearms, explosives, drones, and body armor. They intended to fly explosive-laden drones into the event to spark panic and then shoot fleeing attendees, including a sniper team targeting 'high value targets' such as Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Elon Musk Source: BBC. The attack was meant to 'jumpstart a revolution' Source: BBC. The plot was discovered after the mother of suspect Tycen C. Proper alerted authorities on June 10 about his large firearms purchases and online communications Source: The Guardian.

The Suspects

The eight defendants, aged 19 to 32, hail from across the U.S., including Ohio, Missouri, West Virginia, and California. Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, was allegedly assigned as a sniper and was arrested this week Source: The Guardian. The group communicated via Signal, TikTok, Instagram, and Discord Source: CNA. If convicted on murder charges, they face up to life in prison Source: AP News. A ninth person, Alexander Iniguez Mercado, faces obstruction charges for deleting the Signal app Source: BBC.