Overview
- Authorities say the inquiry began when Tycen Proper’s mother called police on June 10, FBI agents seized his phone and investigators disrupted a planned attack before the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.
- Public records and a criminal complaint show Proper spent about $3,000 to buy two firearms — an AR-15 bought in January and a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun bought June 5 — plus more than 1,000 rounds of 5.56 ammo and dozens of 12-gauge shells.
- Searches recovered tactical gear stored at a family member’s home, including three plate carriers with .308-rated ballistic plates, a tactical helmet, 13 loaded AR-15 magazines, trauma medical kits and other combat equipment.
- Investigators say encrypted Signal group chats contained maps and proposed sniper and drone positions, and federal prosecutors have charged seven men so far as they continue to trace online recruitment and roles such as drone-building and logistics.
- The case highlights how a local welfare check can trigger a rapid federal response and raises questions about encrypted messaging, event security at high-profile federal sites and whether more suspects remain under investigation.