The FBI announced Thursday that agents arrested a 17-year-old male from McKinney, Texas, in connection with an alleged assassination plot targeting Republican Rep. Keith Self of Texas. The arrest occurred October 5 after the teenager obtained a firearm, according to federal law enforcement sources.

The juvenile faces federal charges for allegedly planning to assassinate Self during a public event scheduled for October 17. Investigators also said the suspect was planning a terrorist attack in North Texas on behalf of ISIS.

The FBI arrested a 17-year-old in McKinney, Texas, over an ISIS-inspired plot to assassinate Republican Congressman Keith Self and carry out a terrorist attack in North Texas.

The suspect was arrested after acquiring a firearm. Self is a vocal critic of Sharia law and Islamic extremism. He co-founded the “Sharia-Free America Caucus” — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 21, 2026

The suspect’s identity has not been released. He remained in federal custody while federal prosecutors were seeking to have him tried as an adult.

WFAA reported that the teenager had recently become radicalized through ISIS material found online. Federal agents had been monitoring him before the arrest and moved to take him into custody after he acquired the firearm.

The alleged attack against Self was planned around the congressman’s scheduled appearance at a chili cook-off at a VFW post in McKinney. Self was scheduled to serve as a judge at the event on October 17.

The broader alleged terrorist attack in North Texas was also intended for that weekend. A federal law enforcement source briefed on the matter told WFAA that the plot was inspired by ISIS.

The reported plan placed both a sitting member of Congress and a public gathering in the crosshairs. Federal agents intervened before the scheduled event, with the teenager already under monitoring and allegedly in possession of a firearm.

Self confirmed following the arrest that he and his family were safe. He also connected the alleged threat to the broader danger posed by radical Islam and his own willingness to confront it publicly.

“Protecting our Constitutional Republic from radical Islam is getting messy. I served in the military for 25 years with the mindset that defending freedom was worth the sacrifice. Our elected leaders should govern with that same mindset,” Self told WFAA.

WFAA asked Self whether his public positions on radical Islam could explain why he had been targeted. The congressman said he believed that was possible, although he also made clear that he could not prove it.

“If it’s ISIS-related, you kind of have to believe that. I can’t prove that. I don’t know that for sure. But you have to follow the [old saying] if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck,” he said.

Self issued a separate statement on X thanking the FBI and law enforcement for stopping the alleged threat. He said the incident would not deter him from serving his district or speaking about radical Islam.

“I am grateful to the FBI and law enforcement for stopping this threat. My family and I are safe, and I remain focused on serving the people of Texas’ 3rd District. Preserving our constitutional republic from radical Islam means accepting the costs that come with it—name-calling, threats, and worse,” Self wrote.

“Our Founders believed this country was worth the sacrifice. I served 25 years in the military because defending freedom was worth the sacrifice. This only strengthens my resolve. I will not back down,” the congressman continued.

I am grateful to the FBI and law enforcement for stopping this threat. My family and I are safe, and I remain focused on serving the people of Texas’ 3rd District.

Preserving our constitutional republic from radical Islam means accepting the costs that come with it—name-calling, threats, and worse. Our Founders believed this country was worth the sacrifice. I served 25 years in the military because defending freedom was worth the sacrifice. This only strengthens my resolve. I will not back down. https://t.co/FdUMUQ7wk6 — Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) October 21, 2026

Self’s statements emphasized both his military service and his determination to remain in public life despite the alleged plot. He served in the military for 25 years and repeatedly framed defending freedom as worthy of sacrifice.

The arrest came before both the scheduled public event involving Self and the broader attack allegedly planned for that weekend. The teenager remained in federal custody while prosecutors pursued the effort to try him as an adult.

Infiltrate. Grow. Intimidate. Take control.

That is the playbook for political Islam. We have 1,400 years of history to prove it. https://t.co/imdM2P6G2R — Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) October 19, 2026

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