An 18-year-old high school student in Maryland has been arrested and charged with threat of mass violence after police discovered a 129-page document detailing plans for a school shooting. The document, written by the student, Alex Ye, included strategies for carrying out the act and expressed a desire for notoriety. The arrest came after an exchange on Instagram in which an unidentified person, who had been in treatment with Ye at a psychiatric facility, expressed concern about a potential school shooting. The FBI notified local authorities about Ye’s writings, leading to a joint investigation.
Ye is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit awaiting a bond hearing. He had previously been hospitalized for threatening to “shoot up a school” and had expressed homicidal and suicidal ideations. FBI agents interviewed a school counselor who had worked with Ye and reported that he had made violent threats, including wanting to shoot up Wootton High School. The counselor also mentioned that Ye had expressed a desire to harm others and had smiled while saying disturbing things.
In response to the arrest, the school district has increased security measures as a precaution, particularly at Wootton High School. The school district, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), stated that the charges against Ye are extremely serious and involve alleged threats to harm others. They highlighted the partnership between MCPS and the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) in addressing potential threats and ensuring due process is followed before any harm occurs. The district noted that Ye had not attended physical classes since the fall of 2022 and had been enrolled in an online program.
MCPS declined to provide further details on the case due to student privacy laws but emphasized their commitment to addressing potential threats in collaboration with law enforcement. The school system praised the close relationship between MCPS and MCPD in handling the situation. A news conference is planned for Friday to provide more information on the investigation. It is important for schools and authorities to work together to prevent tragedies and ensure the safety of students, staff, and the community as a whole.
