A Maryland teenager named Andrea Ye, also known as Alex, was arrested after authorities uncovered a plot to commit school shootings. Ye allegedly wrote a 129-page manifesto detailing a strategy to carry out a mass shooting at Thomas Wootton High School in Montgomery County. Investigators discovered the alleged plot through a review of Ye’s writing and internet searches. In the manifesto, Ye expressed a desire to become famous and hinted at targeting an elementary school for a potential attack. Authorities also found that Ye spent time on Discord chats with others who glorified school shootings.
Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones revealed that Ye had mental health issues and expressed admiration for serial killers in his manifesto. Ye had previously been hospitalized in December 2022 after threatening to “shoot up a school,” and clinicians reported that he was talking about “suicide by cop.” Ye allegedly wanted to target his former elementary school because he believed that children made easier targets. Nicole Parker, a former FBI agent, condemned Ye’s actions as evil, emphasizing that he wanted fame by harming innocent children. The prevention of this potential school shooting was attributed to solid police work by authorities.
Authorities first became aware of Ye when someone who knew him shared the manifesto with Baltimore County police in March. The tipster noticed similarities between the main character in the fictional story and Ye, leading to further investigation. Ye’s internet search history showed that he had looked for gun ranges near him and researched school shootings at locations like Sandy Hook and Parkland. During a search of Ye’s family home, a gun belonging to his father was found, but it did not appear that Ye had access to it. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich suggested that Maryland’s strict gun laws may have prevented Ye from obtaining a weapon and acting on his plans sooner.
Ye had not physically attended a Montgomery County Public Schools institution since the fall of 2022 but was enrolled in the virtual program Online Pathways to Graduation. With Ye being charged with making threats of mass violence, he is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit awaiting a bond hearing. Security measures have been increased at schools across Montgomery County, particularly at Wootton High School, following the arrest of Ye. The incident highlighted the importance of mental health support and intervention to prevent potential violence. It also served as a reminder of the 25th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting, further emphasizing the need for vigilance in preventing such tragedies.
