Federal authorities arrested a 17-year-old boy from McKinney on October 5 for plotting to assassinate Texas Congressman Keith Self. The suspect allegedly planned to carry out the attack on behalf of ISIS at a public cook-off this month. He had acquired a firearm before federal agents moved in to stop the threat.
The teenager remains in federal custody while his name stays under seal. Investigators believe he was inspired by online terrorist propaganda to target Self, a vocal opponent of Sharia law. WFAA reported that federal law enforcement sources stated the suspect obtained a firearm before being arrested on October 5.
The Target and the Threat
Rep. Keith Self co-founded the Sharia-Free America Caucus in December 2025 to block foreign religious laws in the US. By June 29, that group had grown to 68 House members from 25 states. In July, Self introduced a bill to protect the Constitution from Sharia Law, which made him a clear target.
Self told CBS News Texas that he only learned of the danger when the FBI confirmed an arrest. “When we knew about it, they had him,” Self said. He noted that the FBI had likely known about the teenager for a while before taking action.
Self stated he was “very grateful” that law enforcement acted before the plot could unfold. He told the New York Post that preserving the republic means accepting “name-calling, threats, and worse.” This was not his first threat, but he said previous ones did not reach this level of danger.
Self’s Response to the Plot
After the arrest, Self posted a statement on X expressing thanks to the FBI and local police. “I am grateful to the FBI and law enforcement for stopping this threat,” he wrote. He added that his family is safe and he remains focused on serving his district.
Self has served in the military for 25 years, often saying that defending freedom requires sacrifice. “Our Founders believed this country was worth the sacrifice,” he wrote in a post on Wednesday. He emphasized that he will not back down from his positions just because of the risk.
When asked if his views on radical Islam led to the plot, he said he could not be certain. “If it’s ISIS related, you kind of have to believe that,” Self told WFAA. He admitted he could not prove the motive but noted the pattern fits.
The suspect faces federal charges and remains held without public identification. North Texas was the site of a separate terror attack that Federal investigators say the teen also planned on behalf of ISIS. Authorities have not released a date for his next court appearance.
Self will face Democrat Evan Hunt in the November congressional election. He won his seat in 2024 with 62.5 percent of the vote against Democrat Sandeep Srivastava. The case moves forward while the teenager stays in federal custody.
Self, who served 25 years in the military, told the New York Post that he believed defending freedom justified the sacrifice. He said this only strengthens his resolve to keep pushing for his legislative goals.
