A 17-year-old from McKinney is accused of plotting to assassinate U.S. Rep. Keith Self and carry out an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in North Texas, after federal agents arrested him once investigators believed he had obtained a firearm. Self, who represents Texas' 3rd Congressional District, says he was never in any real danger and that his family remains safe.
According to dallasexpress.com, federal agents arrested the teenager on Oct. 5 after he obtained a weapon, and investigators believed he planned to assassinate Self on Oct. 17. The outlet reported that investigators believed the teen had recently become radicalized through ISIS material he found online, though the report did not establish whether he belonged to the terrorist group or acted under its direction. The Herald-Banner reported that federal authorities said the teen planned to attack Self at an event last Saturday as part of a broader terrorist operation in North Texas.
Accounts of the teenager's custody status and charges differ. The Dallas Express reported that the suspect remained in federal custody in North Texas without identifying him or specifying any charges, while WFAA reported that the FBI had arrested and charged the 17-year-old. The Herald-Banner reported that authorities had not released the teenager's name or further details about the alleged plot or the event where Self was reportedly targeted.
Self Says He Learned of the Threat After the Arrest Was Already Made
Per CBS News, federal authorities had already arrested the teenager by the time U.S. Capitol Police notified Self of the threat. Self told the station that law enforcement informed him the teen had planned to make waves, possibly shoot at him and carry out a terrorist attack. He said he could not be certain whether his outspoken views on Islamic extremism made him a target.
In a statement, Self said he and his family are safe and thanked the FBI and other law enforcement officers for stopping the alleged threat, per the Herald-Banner. He said my family and I are safe and I remain focused on serving the people of Texas' 3rd District. Self added that preserving the constitutional republic from radical Islam means accepting costs including name-calling and threats, and that the founders believed the country was worth the sacrifice — noting his own 25 years of military service defending freedom was worth it too.
“This only strengthens my resolve. I will not back down,” Self said, according to the Dallas Express.
A Caucus Built Around Opposing Sharia Law
Self has spoken out against sharia law and Islamic extremism throughout his time in Congress. In September, he introduced a nonbinding resolution opposing the implementation of sharia law in the United States, and in December 2025 he formed the Sharia-Free America Caucus with U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, an Austin Republican. The caucus describes its aim as opposing the influence of sharia law in the United States, which it considers incompatible with the Constitution and Western values.
The alleged plot also surfaces against the backdrop of a local dispute. McKinney became a point of contention over a proposed mosque before the city council approved the McKinney Islamic Association's plans in August, with city officials saying the project met local requirements despite objections from some residents.
Democratic Opponent Condemns Political Violence
Self is seeking a third term in Congress against Democratic challenger Evan Hunt. Hunt issued a statement saying there is no place for violence in our politics, adding that no political disagreement ever justifies threatening someone's life and that every elected official, their family and their staff deserve to be safe, regardless of party.
The case lands amid a documented rise in threats against lawmakers nationally. The U.S. Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section investigated 14,938 concerning statements, behaviors and communications directed against members of Congress, their families, staff and the Capitol Complex in 2025, according to the U.S. Capitol Police. The agency's chief, J. Thomas Manger, has separately said threats against members of Congress had increased by approximately 400% over the previous six years.
Other ISIS-Inspired Cases Making Headlines
The alleged McKinney plot follows other recent cases involving accusations of ISIS-inspired violence. As reported by Breitbart, the FBI arrested 35-year-old Jessica Bowie of Albany, New York, in August over an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to bomb the New York State Capitol. In a separate case involving a planned 2015 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Christopher Lee Cornell pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison and lifetime supervised release.
A teenager accused of plotting a mass shooting at the Mall of America in support of ISIS was also scheduled for a federal detention hearing, according to Fox9. Under federal law, prosecutors may seek to try a juvenile as an adult by moving to transfer the case to district court if the juvenile is at least 15 and the government alleges certain enumerated transferable offenses, including some violent crimes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
