Missouri Man Charged in Plot to Kill Government Officials

A federal grand jury in Kansas City has charged a second Missouri man in connection with an alleged plot to attack and kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in St. Louis on June 28, 2026, according to law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the investigation.

The newly charged individual, identified as James R. Holloway, 34, of St. Joseph, Missouri, faces federal terrorism and weapons charges, authorities confirmed Tuesday. Holloway is accused of conspiring with another Missouri man, Derek L. Whitaker, 29, of Springfield, who was charged last week in the same plot. Whitaker remains in custody at the federal detention center in St. Louis pending trial.

Federal prosecutors allege the men planned to use firearms and explosives to target attendees, including elected officials and law enforcement personnel, during the UFC event at the Enterprise Center. The charges stem from a multi-agency investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and Missouri State Highway Patrol, which began in late May after a confidential informant reported suspicious communications.

Why the plot raises concerns
The case marks the second time in two weeks that federal authorities have disrupted alleged domestic extremist plots targeting high-profile public events. Whitaker’s arrest followed a similar investigation in Detroit, Michigan, where three men were charged in May with planning to attack the Republican National Convention using homemade explosives and firearms. While the UFC plot does not appear directly linked to the Detroit case, law enforcement officials say the timing suggests a broader pattern of lone-actor or small-cell extremist activity ahead of major gatherings.

According to court documents obtained by News Directory 3, prosecutors allege Holloway and Whitaker discussed acquiring military-style rifles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and chemical agents to maximize casualties. Whitaker’s arrest warrant describes a "detailed operational plan" that included case studies of past mass-casualty attacks, including the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and the 2019 El Paso, Texas, Walmart attack, though investigators have not established a direct connection to those incidents.

How the investigation unfolded
Authorities say the probe accelerated after a tip from an informant in early June revealed Whitaker’s online activity, including encrypted messages referencing "soft targets" and "high-value kills." Surveillance captured Whitaker purchasing components for explosives at a hardware store in Springfield on June 12, prompting a raid on his residence on June 18. During the search, agents recovered a loaded handgun, a partially assembled Molotov cocktail, and digital files containing attack schematics.

Holloway’s arrest followed a separate FBI operation in St. Joseph on June 21, where agents executed a search warrant on his home and seized a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition, and a journal detailing his "patriot" ideology. The journal, reviewed by investigators, included references to the UFC event as a "prime opportunity to strike at the federal government’s ‘globalist agenda.’" Prosecutors have not yet determined whether Holloway and Whitaker acted independently or as part of a larger network.

What happens next for the accused
Both men are scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on July 3, 2026, for initial hearings. If convicted, they could face life sentences under federal terrorism statutes. Their legal teams have not yet commented publicly, though defense attorneys typically argue that their clients’ online activity did not constitute a credible threat.

The UFC has not issued a statement on the matter, but event organizers have increased security measures for the June 28 fight card, including expanded metal detectors, armed perimeter patrols, and coordination with local law enforcement. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed additional officers will be deployed to the Enterprise Center, though the event will proceed as scheduled.

Broader context: A rise in extremist threats ahead of summer events
The charges highlight growing concerns among federal and local agencies about extremist targeting of large public gatherings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an internal bulletin last month warning of elevated threats at major sporting events, political conventions, and music festivals following a surge in domestic violence extremism (DVE) cases. Since January 2026, the FBI has opened over 400 new cases involving alleged plots to disrupt public events, up 32% from the same period last year.

Experts caution that while the UFC plot is serious, it does not yet indicate a coordinated movement. "These cases often involve individuals radicalized through online forums or social media, not formalized cells," said Dr. Emily Goldstein, a counterterrorism researcher at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. "The challenge is identifying the needle in the haystack before it becomes an active threat."

For readers seeking updates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri will hold a press conference at 10:00 AM CDT on July 3 to provide additional details. No further arrests are expected at this time, though law enforcement sources say the investigation remains open.