Alex Ye: Teen arrested as cops discover 129-page manifesto detailing plans to carry out school shootings

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND: A Maryland teen reportedly laid out his plans for two school shootings in a 129-page document that a tipster turned up to authorities, as stated by officials on Thursday, April 18.

In a statement, the Montgomery County Police Department noted that Alex Ye, 18, of Rockville, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with threats of mass violence.

Alex Ye apparently wanted to attack his former elementary school as 'little kids make easier targets'

The statement claimed that the 129-page document was acquired via a search warrant after an investigation by the FBI and police.

Authorities noted, "In the document, Ye writes about committing a school shooting, and strategizes how to carry out the act. Ye also contemplates targeting an elementary school and says that he wants to be famous."

Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones told reporters in Gaithersburg on Friday that Ye allegedly wanted to attack his former elementary school as "little kids make easier targets," according to NBC News.

The 18-year-old allegedly "strategized on how to access the easiest classrooms in his high school."

"This situation highlights the critical importance of vigilance and community involvement in preventing potential tragedies," said Jones.

He added, "Ye also wrote that he wanted to become a serial killer instead of a mass murderer because serial killers are romanticized a lot more." 

Ye has been under investigation by police since early March but only arrested him this week, out of concern that he might really carry out the intended plans. 

"It’s not our goal to make an arrest in every case of a threat," stated Jones, who also mentioned that his organization has received 140 tips regarding potential acts of school violence this academic year alone.

Having said that, he stressed, "But this case is different. This case is entirely different — that takes it to a different level. It was a concerned witness who brought this matter to light by reporting the suspect’s manifesto to authorities." 

Police also found documents, drawings, and internet searches "related to mass threats of violence," said the statement.

Alex Ye put at least five students at a 'substantial risk of death'

As a result of the investigation, security has been stepped up at schools, especially at Thomas S Wootton High School in Rockville, which Ye had attended in person before being admitted to several mental health facilities.

The document, which Ye referred to as a "memoir," was first discovered by authorities when they received a call from an informant referred to as "Witness-One" in court documents.

Ye said the memoir was a made-up story about a high school shooting to the person, who had spent time with him in a mental health facility.

The document begins with a disclaimer saying, "This is not threat of violence, nor does it represent the author’s beliefs," according to court documents.

However, the content was sufficient to alert authorities and as per court records Ye placed at least five Wootton High School students "at a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury if the threat were carried out."

"It appears that the 'manifesto' has portions of fictional and non-fictional qualities and is based on reality with a plan of Threats of Mass Violence," stated the officials in court documents.

Ye allegedly wrote that he wanted to become famous and break the record for the most kills and that he wanted to shoot up his school with an AR-15, focusing on the elementary school because young children are easier targets.

Prosecutors said that he looked up "near me" gun ranges and school shootings like Sandy Hook and Parkland on the internet. The charging document also stated that he was part of a Discord chat group with other members dedicated to glorifying school shootings.

Ye was hospitalized in December 2022 after making threats to "shoot up school" and experiencing suicidal and homicidal thoughts.

He was released the following month, but the reasoning behind it isn't clear as court documents state that he continued to be preoccupied with explosives, self-harm, and school shootings.

Alex Ye faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty

According to a public school spokesman, Ye stopped going to school in the fall of 2022 but continued his education online.

Montgomery County Police Chief Jones noted a gun that belonged to Ye's father was discovered locked inside the family home during a police search. However, it didn't seem like the suspect had access to a weapon.

Maryland's stringent gun control laws, according to Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, may have avoided a tragedy.

He remarked, "This could well be a case where the difficulty to get guns prevented him from getting a gun when he wanted it and possibly prevented him from acting as soon as he would have preferred to act."

Nevertheless, officials declared that they thought Ye posed a real threat. "Even after being removed from the school, Ye said that he could do something at graduation because he lived close to the school," said Jones on Friday.

According to a representative for the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office, the state's request to detain Ye without bond pending trial was approved at a Friday court hearing.

The 18-year-old's trial is set to begin on June 3. He is being charged with one misdemeanor count of "threat of mass violence," which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence if found guilty.