Maryland student arrested over school shooting plot after 129-page manifesto was found

A Rockville, Maryland high school student has been charged with a threat of mass violence after a 129-page manifesto was found detailing plans to commit a school shooting.

18-year-old Alex Ye was arrested on Wednesday after a document was found written by Ye that strategized how to plan and commit a school shooting. The plan also included a local elementary school. In a joint investigation the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and the FBI Baltimore Field Office were notified about the document, according to a press release by the MCPD.

On April 17 Ye was taken into custody by MCPD and charged with one count of a threat of mass violence. Ye is currently being held in the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit.  

Ye's bond hearing is scheduled for April 19 at 1:00 p.m. in the Montgomery County District Court. A trial is expected to begin on June 3.

USA TODAY contacted Ye’s attorney for comment.

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MCPD and FBI open an investigation

In a search warrant obtained by MCPD, the police department was able to find internet searches, drawings and documents that showed threats of mass violence, the press release said.

After these findings, the MCPD notified the Community Engagement Division and the Montgomery County Public Schools to heighten their securities at schools, especially Wootton High School.

Ye’s goal was to become famous, police said.

Officials unveil timeline leading up to Ye's arrest

In a new conference on April 19 Montgomery County Police Department Chief Marcus Jones detailed the events leading up to Ye's arrest:

• March 3: MCPD contacted the Rockville City Police Department to check the welfare of Ye. The police department received information about a threat that was made. Officers went to Ye's residence and Ye's father answered the door. The officers were denied entry into the home and were not allowed to search the residence or to interview Ye.
• March 4: The Rockville City Police Department notified the MCPD Community Engagement Division for an intervention. It was noted that Ye had made significant statements regarding shooting up a former elementary school Ye attended and high school. Police then issued a search warrant in order to gain access to the 129-page document.
• March 5: A friend of Ye reported the student to police for a book he was writing. In the book, Ye detailed acts of a school shooting and stated that he wanted to be killed execution style. In the document Ye wrote that he would kill school children because, "little kids make easier targets." He also wrote that he wanted to become a serial killer instead of a mass murderer because serial killers are romanticized.
• March 6: Intervention officers evaluated Ye at his home and he was taken to a hospital for an emergency evaluation petition.
• March 13: FBI agents interviewed the Wootton High School staff.
• March 15: After speaking to a school psychologist, they stated that Ye would be fixated on statements about school shootings.
• March 19: MCPD searched Ye's Discord app which revealed conversations involving:
  • The Columbine Shooting
  • Drawings of shootings on Ye's iPhone
  • 2023 shooting shooting game
  • The Parkland Shooting
  • Shooter
  • Terrorist Threat

An arrest warrant was requested and obtained on April 16 by MCPD.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X @forbesfineest.