Full Breakdown
Eight Men Indicted for Planned Drone and Sniper Attack on White House UFC Event
7/10/2026, 4:44:40 PM
Indictment Overview
On July 9, 2026, a federal grand jury in Ohio returned murder and terrorism-conspiracy indictments against eight men for an alleged plot to attack the UFC “Freedom 250” mixed-martial-arts show staged on the White House South Lawn in mid-June. The charges allege two conspiracies: providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to commit murder on federal government territory, including the murder of a federal official.
Plot Development and Planned Tactics
According to the indictment, the scheme began in May 2026 when the group started acquiring money, firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical and communications equipment. Law-enforcement officials learned of a possible threat on June 10, four days before the event scheduled for June 14. A federal affidavit states that one defendant told investigators the plan involved flying explosive-laden drones into the arena and then shooting panicked crowd members as they fled. Chandler D. Scaggs, 21, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, was allegedly assigned to serve as a sniper; he was to be transported by Tycen C. Proper, 19, of Danville, Ohio, but lost contact after Proper’s arrest.
Alleged Targets and Motive
Federal prosecutors allege the conspirators intended to kill President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, other federal officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, and “other high-value targets” attending the UFC show. Officials said the group harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government.
Legal Charges and Potential Penalties
The eight defendants face charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists—punishable by up to 15 years in prison—and conspiring to commit murder on federal property—punishable by life imprisonment. Arrests occurred across Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, California, Washington, and West Virginia between the weekend of the event and the following week.
Official and Defense Responses
The Justice Department has not issued a detailed public statement beyond the indictment filing. Chandler Scaggs’ attorney, Eric Brehm, said his office is “thoroughly reviewing the allegations” and declined further comment. No additional official remarks from the White House or other targeted officials were reported in the available sources.
