A 17-year-old boy from McKinney, Texas, was arrested by the FBI after he allegedly plotted to assassinate Republican U.S. Rep. Keith Self and carry out a terrorist attack in North Texas on behalf of ISIS, according to local reports citing federal law enforcement sources.
Local outlets reported that the teenager was inspired by online ISIS propaganda and allegedly planned to target Self, who is the co-founder and co-chair of the Sharia-Free America Caucus in the U.S. House.
Sources told WFAA that the teenager obtained a firearm earlier this month and allegedly planned to carry out the attack during a public cook-off where Self was scheduled to be a judge in McKinney. The teenager was arrested Oct. 5, according to the report.
Self wrote in a statement on X that he was grateful to the FBI and law enforcement for stopping the threat and assured constituents that he and his family are safe.
“I remain focused on serving the people of Texas’ 3rd District,” Self said. “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,” he added.
Self, who is running for re-election in Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, is set to face Democrat Evan Hunt.
Hunt wrote in a statement statement following the reports that “There is no place for violence in our politics.”
No political disagreement ever justifies threatening someone’s life. Every elected official, their family and their staff deserve to be safe, regardless of party,” he wrote in a statement. “I appreciate the FBI and the law enforcement officers working to keep our communities and public servants safe. We must settle our differences through debate and at the ballot box. Political violence must be condemned without hesitation or excuses, no matter who is targeted,” he continued.
Because the suspect is a minor, his name has not been released publicly. Some local reports have said federal prosecutors are seeking to have the teenager prosecuted as an adult, though details of the case have not been publicly released.
