A 17-year-old McKinney resident has been arrested and charged by the FBI for planning to assassinate U.S. Rep. Keith Self and carry out an allegedly ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in North Texas.
According to reports, the bureau arrested the would-be assassin on October 5 after the individual obtained a firearm. Investigators said they believed the suspect planned the assassination for October 17. The suspect had been monitored by federal agents for some time at that point, and was believed to have been radicalized by online ISIS material.
In a post to X on Wednesday, Self (R–McKinney) expressed his gratitude to the FBI and law enforcement for their role in preventing the threat.
“My family and I are safe,” Self wrote. “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.”
“This only strengthens my resolve. I will not back down,” Self added.
Self has been an outspoken opponent of a controversial Islamic Association of McKinney mosque project. At the city council meeting that approved the site plan for the new mosque, Self warned of radical Islam, stating, “Child marriage, honor killings, don’t tell me it can’t happen here.” The comments garnered Self a standing ovation at the meeting.
Additionally, Self, along with U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R–Austin), launched the Sharia-Free America Caucus in late 2025. The caucus has “sparked conversations throughout Congress and across the country, drawing attention to concerns surrounding Sharia and its incompatibility with the principles enshrined in the United States Constitution.”
Politicians, some from across the aisle, have come forward publicly to express their solidarity with Self in light of the thwarted assassination.
“The FBI stopped this radical Islamic terrorist before he could strike,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, praising the agency. “Radical Islamic terrorism has no place in Texas. We will combat radical Islam in all forms and eliminate every threat it poses.”
Roy posted to X Wednesday in response to news of the suspect’s arrest, saying, “I stand proudly with [Self]. ‘His Truth is Marching On.’”
Democrat nominee Evan Hunt, Self’s midterm opponent in the race for Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, stated in response to the news 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.”
Self and Roy, along with two other Texas congressmen, recently asked U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to investigate several Islamic groups for potential abuse of taxpayer-funded grants and ties to terrorism.
Radical Islam is drawing increasing scrutiny in Texas, with Republican primary voters overwhelmingly voting in favor of a non-binding ballot proposition calling for an end to Sharia law.
Recently, businessman Elon Musk warned of “jihadis” after claiming he had fired Ndiaga Diagne from Tesla for assaulting a woman for stepping on his prayer rug. Diagne was later charged for a mass shooting in Austin. He wore a “Property of Allah” sweatshirt while carrying out the shooting that claimed the lives of three victims.
A representative of the FBI’s Dallas office gave no further comment when asked by Texas Scorecard.
Hunter Burney, Texas Scorecard
