8 indicted in planned sniper attack at White House UFC 250 event, DOJ says
Eight people now face terrorism charges related to a thwarted alleged plot to kill government officials and high-profile figures — including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk — at the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House last month.
All eight were charged together Thursday as part of a two-count indictment handed down in Ohio.
The indictment alleges they conspired to provide material support to terrorists, conspired to commit murder on federal territory, and conspired to murder federal government officials, the Justice Department said.
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On June 10 — just four days prior to the event — law enforcement officials first learned of the possible threat to the cage-fighting show. Seven of the suspects were arrested shortly after in various locations across the country.
The eighth suspect, who was allegedly designated to participate as a sniper during the attack, was arrested this week by the FBI in West Virginia.
The indictment stems from an initial investigation and criminal complaint filed against Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio. The other defendants are Michael Alan Thomas, 32; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32; Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31; Jordan W. Rincker, 28; Bryan Omar Roa, 25; William Lee Spartacus Falkner, 21; and Chandler D. Scaggs, 21.
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The plot allegedly began in May when the defendants started amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical supplies and communications equipment.
Federal prosecutors said Scaggs was originally supposed to be picked up by Proper to travel to Washington, D.C.
However, even after Proper was arrested, Scaggs indicated to the group that he was still willing to participate in the attack and made new plans for another co-conspirator to pick him up.
The suspects coordinated online through an encrypted Signal chat, Discord, and a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old," authorities said.
The group held fringe anti-government conspiracy theories and expressed a desire to "tear down" the United States so it could be rebuilt, prosecutors noted.
