17-year-old detained in plot to target Texas congressman at chili cook-off

For residents of the Texas third congressional district, the political landscape just became more volatile as a 17-year-old from McKinney was arrested on charges of plotting to kill Congressman Keith Self. The teenager is accused of targeting the Republican lawmaker during a veterans fundraiser, a development that has prompted Self and his team to tighten their security protocols while early voting continues across the state.

According to campaign officials and Rep. Self, the FBI apprehended the suspect on Oct. 5. The congressman’s staff learned of the detention through the U.S. Capitol Police the following day. Investigators indicated that federal agents had been monitoring the teen, who was believed to be radicalized and planning a terrorist attack in support of ISIS.

The specific target for the alleged plot was a chili cook-off fundraiser for veterans scheduled for Oct. 17. The event was to feature former Dallas Cowboys players and other high-profile guests. Self’s team reported that they increased their situational awareness immediately after learning of the arrest, though they noted the congressman already maintained a substantial security presence.

Self told NBC 5 that his military background helped him manage the news with a level of composure that might not have been possible for others. He said he was grateful for his prior combat experience, which allowed him to assess whether the threat was from a lone actor without panicking. He noted that while he had received threats before, this was the first time an arrest had followed such warnings.

The congressman’s wife, who spent 25 years as a military spouse, also took the threat seriously. Self emphasized that while the incident was serious, it did not disrupt his campaign schedule. He stated that the team continued to monitor their surroundings while he remained active in polling places and voter meetings throughout the morning of the news report.

Despite the alleged assassination plot, Self attended the Oct. 17 event as planned. He judged 19 different chilies and three pots of beans at the gathering, noting that nothing happened and the event was delightful. He plans to continue his campaign activities, asserting that the threat will not deter him from communicating his message to the American public.

This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened attention on Self’s stance against Sharia law. In September, he introduced a nonbinding concurrent resolution denouncing Sharia law and affirming the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land. The McKinney area, within his district, has also seen significant debate regarding local development plans for a mosque expansion, a vote that was approved unanimously by the city council in August after contentious public comment.

Evan Hunt, Self’s opponent in the midterm election, condemned the alleged plot in a social media post. The FBI Dallas office has not yet provided additional details, and the investigation remains ongoing. The teen’s identity has not been released to the public while authorities continue their work.

The case highlights the growing intersection of local politics, national security, and community debates in the Southwest. As the campaign moves forward, the focus remains on how the district’s leaders navigate these threats while engaging with constituents in an increasingly charged political environment.