Montgomery County police arrest high school student accused of planning school shooting
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCDP) arrested an 18-year-old Wootton High School student on Wednesday who is accused of planning a school shooting.
MCDP said it seized a 129-page “manifesto” from 18-year-old Alex Ye, of Rockville. In the document, Ye wrote about committing a school shooting and strategized how to carry it out. He also wrote about targeting an elementary school and said he wanted to be famous.
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Charging documents obtained by DC News Now said Ye told someone he finished writing “his book” and wanted to share it with them on March 3. He said it was a story about a high school shooting and shared a link to the manifesto with the person.
Ye noted that the document was a work of fiction with a disclaimer at the start of the manifesto.
“This is not a threat of violence, nor does it represent the author’s beliefs,” the disclaimer stated, in part.
The person reviewed the manifesto and noticed similarities between Ye and the main character, James Wang. The story focused on a transgender person being bullied in school, and other issues that were believed to be directly from Ye’s life.
The person said the book indicated the shooting would take place “the next day,” saying “I will be doing it tomorrow.”
“The gun is an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle. It’s the kind of gun with long barrel and stock you put up against your shoulder. This gun is going to change lives tomorrow,” Ye wrote, according to the court filings.
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The person told Baltimore County police that they believed a school shooting by Ye was imminent. Rockville City police then conducted a welfare check on Ye.
Ye’s father said he wasn’t concerned with his son’s mental status and felt confident Ye would confide in his therapist. He said he was aware Ye spent months writing “a novel” and was adamant the novel was fiction, according to charging documents.
His father said that he had not read any part of the manifesto.
A search warrant found “internet searches, drawings and documents related to threats of mass violence,” according to a release from MCDP.
MCDP worked with the FBI field office in Baltimore to coordinate the arrest after FBI officials notified local police about the manifesto.
Several students at Wootton told DC News Now they didn’t get any formal communication from school officials during the day after the news broke Thursday.
“I found out during sixth period. I was in shock. I didn’t know what to say. When you hear about these things happening at schools you don’t expect them to happen to you,” said Anna Sofronas, a freshman.
Officers said they are working with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to increase security, especially at Wootton High School where Ye attended.
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MCPS released the following statement regarding Ye’s arrest:
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is aware of the arrest of a student from Thomas S. Wootton High School by the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). The charges are extremely serious, involving alleged threats to harm others. We value and appreciate the close collaboration between MCPS and MCPD in this matter, which is an example of our shared commitment to identify and address potential threats with due process before they materialize.
The student, who has not physically attended an MCPS school since the fall of 2022, has been actively participating in lessons through a virtual program called Online Pathways to Graduation.
This matter is an ongoing police investigation, and because of student privacy law (FERPA), MCPS cannot share any other information. It is important to understand that student privacy regulations are not a matter of arbitrary discretion but are instead firmly established by federal law. Specifically, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) serves as a safeguard, prohibiting the disclosure of specific information pertaining to disciplinary actions or educational records. While this may understandably pose frustrations, particularly in contexts where transparency is desired, it’s crucial to recognize that these regulations are in place to uphold the safety and privacy rights of all students, even those who may be subjects of a criminal investigation.
MCPD and MCPS regularly collaborate to support student safety and ensure a high level of safety for the entire community.
Montgomery County Public Schools
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Ye is being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit while awaiting a bond hearing. He was charged with threats of mass violence.
In counseling sessions from Oct. 2022 to Feb. 2023, Ye had expressed violent thoughts, such as shooting up the school and wanting to hurt people, and would smile while saying these things, according to interview notes from the FBI included in charging documents.
Throughout those five months of counseling, Ye was fixated on school shootings and made statements every time they spoke about committing a shooting. At the time, Ye was “trespassed” from the school, but he said he would and could do something regardless of not being allowed in, according to FBI interview notes.
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