A Maryland teen has been taken into custody for supposedly threatening mass violence, with investigators disclosing proof implying plans for a shooting at a school in Montgomery County.
Maryland Teen Accused of Threatening School Shooting
Eighteen-year-old Alex Ye, also known legally as Andrea Ye, from Rockville, was arrested on Wednesday after the findings of a 129-page "memoir" he allegedly authored. The document reportedly contained descriptions of potential shootings at both a high school and an elementary school.
Although Ye initially claimed the writings were fiction and included a disclaimer stating they did not represent his beliefs, a witness who had seen the writings contacted authorities in early March, citing significant similarities to Ye's life and expressing concern that he might be planning an imminent attack.
Ye later referred to the writings as "his memoir" during discussions with law enforcement.
Authorities, upon investigation, noted that the writings contained elements of both fiction and non-fiction. According to court documents, the witness informed police that Ye's "memoir" featured a transgender protagonist named "James Wang," whose experiences mirrored aspects of Ye's own life, particularly instances of bullying.
While Ye identifies as male despite being biologically female, according to police records, the writings included detailed plans for carrying out a shooting, with specific references to targeting classrooms perceived as easy targets and even considering an attack on a former elementary school due to the perceived vulnerability of young children.
Police also uncovered concerning social media activity and internet searches by Ye, including inquiries about nearby gun ranges and descriptions of firearms.
Chat records indicated conversations in which Ye discussed thoughts of carrying out a school shooting, expressing escalating levels of homicidal ideation.
There is no indication in the documents that Ye had access to firearms at the time of his arrest. He has not yet entered a plea and is currently awaiting a bond hearing.
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Teen Had History of Mental Health Treatment
Ye, an active student at Wootton High School, had been participating in virtual classes since late 2022, according to Montgomery County Public Schools. He has a documented history of receiving inpatient mental health care, with reports of expressing thoughts of violence and undergoing emergency evaluations.
One counselor who worked with Ye reported that he discussed violent thoughts, including shooting up the school, with apparent enthusiasm and a desire for fame stemming from such an event.
Investigators claim Ye purchased a BB gun on Amazon and intended to provoke a confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in "suicide by cop."
Authorities learned of the document in March from an individual Ye met at a psychiatric facility. Charging documents reveal Ye had undergone mental health treatment in recent years.
Police obtained a warrant to search Ye's Rockville residence and seized electronic devices containing searches for gun ranges, AR-15 rifles, and murder-suicide information. No one responded at Ye's residence on Thursday.
Numerous students expressed relief at Ye's arrest, stating they were unfamiliar with him but found the situation unsettling.
Ye is currently detained at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, awaiting a bond hearing. Details regarding his legal representation were unavailable at the time.
Montgomery County police and Montgomery County Public Schools have bolstered security measures at schools, authorities confirmed.
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