A Maryland high school student has been arrested and charged with threat of mass violence after authorities discovered evidence indicating plans for a school shooting. The 18-year-old student, identified as Alex Ye, was taken into custody following the discovery of a 129-page document detailing his intentions, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police.
The arrest came after an exchange on Instagram where an individual, who knew Ye from a psychiatric facility, reported concerns about a potential school shooting. Ye referred to the document as his 'memoir,' claiming it was a work of fiction. However, the writings included strategies for carrying out a school shooting and expressed a desire for fame.
Following a joint investigation by the FBI and local authorities, Ye is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit awaiting a bond hearing. It was revealed that Ye had a history of hospitalization for threatening behavior, including expressing homicidal and suicidal ideations.
Recent interviews with a school counselor indicated that Ye had made violent threats in the past, specifically mentioning a desire to harm others at Wootton High School and an unnamed elementary school, later identified as Lakewood Elementary.
In response to the situation, the school district has increased security measures at Wootton High School as a precautionary measure. The district confirmed that the student had not physically attended classes since Fall 2022 and had been enrolled in an online program.
Montgomery County Public Schools emphasized the seriousness of the charges and highlighted the collaboration between the school system and law enforcement in addressing potential threats. The district refrained from further comments, citing student privacy laws.
A news conference is scheduled for Friday to provide additional updates on the case.
