These charges are connected with plans for a school shooting.
Alex Ye (photo from Montgomery County Police)
Gaithersburg, Md (KM) Montgomery County Police have charged a Rockville teenager with threats of mass violence connected with plans for a shooting at an area school. Andrea Ye , 18, of Rockville—whose preferred name is Alex Ye— was taken into custody on Wednesday, and is currently being held without bond.
Authorities say this arrest follows a joint investigation by Montgomery County Police and the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office. The federal agency notified police in Montgomery County about a 129-page “manifesto” written by Ye where he discusses committing a mass shooting, and strategizes how to carry it out. Ye also writes about targeting an elementary school, and says he wants to be famous.
That led to a search warrant obtained by Montgomery County Police, followed by internet searches, drawings and documents related to threats of mass violence. .
Due to this investigation, Montgomery County Police worked with the School System to increase security at the schools, .especially Wootton High School where Ye was a student.
Montgomery County Police say a news conference is planned for Friday, April 19th. A date and time will be announced later in a media advisory.
By Kevin McManus