Maryland high school student arrested after authorities discover 129-page document detailing school shooting plan, police say

A Maryland high school student was arrested and charged with threatening mass violence after police said they discovered evidence that the teen intended to carry out a shooting at his school, authorities said Thursday.

Wednesday’s arrest came after authorities discovered a 129-page document they believe was written by Alex Ye, 18, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) said in a statement Thursday. Press release.

Authorities became aware of the writings following an exchange Ye had via Instagram messaging with an unidentified person who believed a school shooting was “imminent,” according to the arrest warrant. ‘teenager. The unidentified person knew Ye through inpatient treatment at a local psychiatric facility, the warrant states.

You referred to these writings as “his memoir,” which begins with a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction, the arrest warrant states.

“In the document, Ye discusses the school shooting and strategizes how to carry out the act. Ye also plans to target an elementary school and says he wants to be famous,” MCPD said in its press release. “A search warrant obtained by MCPD resulted in internet searches, drawings and documents related to threats of mass violence.”

MCPD said it was informed by the FBI of Ye’s alleged writings, leading to a joint investigation by the two agencies.

Ye is being held in the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit awaiting a bond hearing. It is unclear whether Ye has an attorney.

Ye was hospitalized in December 2022 for “threatening to ‘shoot up a school,’ homicide and suicidal ideation,” according to the arrest warrant. The student was then hospitalized for five months in 2023 at the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Unit for “homicidal ideation.”

Most recently, on March 15, FBI agents interviewed a school counselor who worked with the student from late 2022 to early 2023 and said Ye would “express violent thoughts such as shooting up the school, wanting to harm d ‘other people, and would smile while saying it.’ ”, according to the arrest warrant.

The student “actually said he wanted to shoot up Wootton HS and “his elementary school,” but never gave the name of the elementary school. The counselor knows it is Lakewood Elementary,” the arrest warrant states.

In response, the school district has increased security as a precaution, particularly at Wootton High School due to “valid concern regarding a school shooting,” the arrest warrant states, adding that it hopes that this will serve as a “visual deterrent”.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) said it is aware of the arrest of a Wootton High student. The student has not physically attended classes since fall 2022 and has been enrolled in an online program, the district added.

“The charges are extremely serious, involving alleged threats to harm others,” the school system said in a statement. “We appreciate and appreciate the close collaboration between MCPS and MCPD in this matter, which is an example of our shared commitment to identifying and addressing potential threats through due process before they materialize.”

MCPS declined to comment further on the matter, citing student privacy laws. Police said a news conference was planned for Friday.

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