A transgender Maryland teenager has been arrested for allegedly planning a mass capturing at two faculties in a twisted effort to develop into “well-known.”
Alex Ye, 18, of Rockville, whose authorized title is Andrea, was arrested Wednesday and charged with threatening mass violence after allegedly authoring the 129-page doc the suspect known as a “memoir,” according to ABC News.
Authorities mentioned the writing was about committing mass shootings at Wootton Excessive Faculty, which Ye had attended on-line, and at Lakewood Elementary Faculty.
Ye allegedly advised his former faculty counselor that he wished to develop into “well-known from this occasion,” in line with the outlet.
The scholar had claimed the memoir was a piece of fiction — which included a disclaimer that it doesn’t “characterize the writer’s beliefs” — however an individual with whom the coed shared the doc alerted authorities as a result of it bore “hanging similarities” to the author.
The witness believed Ye — who’s biologically feminine although identifies as male — was ready to hold out the assaults shortly, in line with the information outlet.
“I wish to shoot up a college. I’ve been making ready for months. The gun is an AR-15. This gun goes to alter lives tomorrow … As I stroll by means of the hallways, I cherry choose the lecture rooms which might be the best targets,” Ye allegedly wrote, WBAL-TV reported.
“I want to determine the way to sneak the gun in. I’ve contemplated making bombs. The directions to make them are surprisingly out there on-line. I’ve additionally thought-about capturing up my former elementary faculty as a result of little youngsters make simpler targets,” the coed allegedly continued.
“Highschool’s one of the best goal; I’m probably the most conversant in the structure. I tempo round my room like an evil mastermind. I’ve put a lot effort into this. My final objective can be to set the world document for probably the most quantity of kills in a capturing. If I’ve time, I’ll attempt to decapitate my victims with a knife to show the accidents into deaths,” the screed allegedly says.
In keeping with courtroom paperwork cited by ABC Information, the witness advised authorities that the writing was about “a transgender fundamental character” named “James Wang” who was “being bullied in class and different points that [the witness] believed had been immediately from Ye’s life and never indicative of fiction.”
Police mentioned they discovered worrisome social media posts and web searches by Ye, together with allegedly looking out “gun vary close to me,” descriptions of an AR-15 and the phrase “However, I do acknowledge that my plan is absolutely unethical. It’s egocentric and evil,” in line with the outlet.
Chat data allegedly present the suspect discussing ideas of capturing up his faculty with one other individual in September.
“My homicidal ideation has been getting worse currently to the purpose I’d act on it will definitely,” Ye allegedly wrote in December.
“I’d wish to kill lots of people or it wouldn’t be price it,” the suspect mentioned in one other message that month, in line with officers.
There’s no allegation that Ye had possession of any firearms as much as the time of his arrest, ABC Information reported.
The one who shared the manifesto with Baltimore cops on March three and Ye each acquired therapy at a psychiatric facility in Maryland, WJLA reported.
Ye began receiving psychological well being therapy in December 2022 after making alleged threats, in line with the outlet.
Rockville Metropolis police had been later contacted and so they carried out a welfare examine on Ye, whose father allegedly advised them he was not involved together with his baby’s psychological standing as a result of he was sure the teenager would contact their therapist, WJLA mentioned.
The Montgomery County faculty district referred to as the fees “extraordinarily critical.”
“Montgomery County Public Faculties (MCPS) is conscious of the arrest of a pupil from Thomas S. Wootton Excessive Faculty by the Montgomery County Police Division (MCPD). The costs are extraordinarily critical, involving alleged threats to hurt others,” it mentioned, WBAL-TV reported.
“The scholar, who has not bodily attended an MCPS faculty because the fall of 2022, has been actively collaborating in classes by means of a digital program referred to as On-line Pathways to Commencement,” the college system mentioned.
“This matter is an ongoing police investigation, and due to pupil privateness legislation (FERPA), MCPS can’t share another data. It is very important perceive that pupil privateness rules usually are not a matter of arbitrary discretion however are as an alternative firmly established by federal legislation,” it added.
Ye, who has not but entered a plea, is being held on the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit pending a bond listening to.
The investigation was carried out collectively by the Montgomery County police and the FBI.