By D. Kevin McNeir
Alex Ye, 18, of Rockville, Md., was charged on April 18, with threatening mass violence after collaborative investigations by state, county and federal officials uncovered multiple social media posts and a 129-page “manifesto” written by the youth, describing a desire to shoot up both a local elementary and high school.
Following Ye’s arrest, Montgomery County Police Department Chief Marcus Jones led an April 19 news conference to update the community.
Jones commended his colleagues for their collective efforts which prevented what could have resulted in a tragic outcome, further citing the significance of a witness who came forward alerting officials about Ye’s threats and other signs of mental instability.
“Mr. Ye has been arrested for allegedly planning a school shooting and this situation highlights the critical importance of vigilance and community involvement in preventing potential tragedies,” Jones said. “Swift action and cooperation by members of the Montgomery County and Rockville Police departments, the FBI, Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery County Health and Human Services helped to prevent a potentially catastrophic event. However, it took considerable patience by all involved led by investigators whose advice we followed in not making any rash decisions.”
The schools alleged identified as Ye’s targets include Wootton High School and Lakewood Elementary School, both in Rockville.
Jones was joined at the press conference by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich; FBI Special Agent Bill DelBagno; Montgomery County Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Brian Hull; John McCarthy, State’s Attorney for Montgomery County; and Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, among others.
Jones said in working with county schools for the past several years, their goal has been to deescalate situations, rather than making an arrest each time threats are made.
“So far this year, we have received 140 threats to our schools in the county,” he said. “In those instances–particularly when it comes to threats of shooting or a bomb– when we have identified the student, we make visits to the family residence and speak to parents and the student to make sure the student is incapable of carrying out the threat. In those cases, no arrests were made, but the student was referred to the school system for further discipline.”
“This case was different. A concerned witness brought the matter to life and reported the manifesto to authorities. This underscores the importance of community engagement and the ‘see something-say something approach.’ We encourage anyone who has concerns about safety to report them right away. And we want to remind students, parents and staff that support services are available for anyone who may be affected. Finally, while this incident was thwarted, it serves as a reminder that we must remain vigilant and proactive in preventing acts of violence,” said Jones who added that Ye’s threats, including his google account and his manifesto, have been part of a thorough investigation that dates back to March 5.
Jones pointed to one sobering section of the 129-page memoir in which Ye, who alleges that it was merely fiction, said, in efforts to explain why he had included shooting up an elementary school, “little kids make easier targets.”
Officials agree on need for increased mental health services
During his comments, Elrich acknowledged the importance of being supportive of one another, particularly in times of distress.
“Because mass shootings have happened before, it’s not unreasonable to believe it could happen again,” Elrich said. “In this case, we know Alex was struggling with mental health issues. I want to commend the witness who came forward. When you see a friend going down a very dark path, you need to contact authorities – not to punish but to help the individual. For some, we hope this is a wake-up call to take things like this more seriously.
“Ye commented on his posts the difficulty he found in obtaining guns. Maryland has some of the toughest laws in the nation in terms of purchasing guns. Some may ask what difference does that make. We are here to say that it can and it does make a difference.”
Jawando noted that the case involving Alex Ye should remind us that no one is immune to threats of violence which he said have become far too prevalent.
“Ironically, before this press conference, I was at a hearing in my role as the chairman of education and culture committee for the Montgomery County Council where we were discussing funding for high school mental wellness centers and putting them on the path in our 25 high schools in the County,” he said adding that he wears another hat – as the father of four children, several of whom are now in Montgomery County schools.
“When we engage and connect with each other, that’s how we begin to heal. As a parent, I know you cannot run away from youth – you have to talk with them, even if what you’re discussing makes you afraid. Fortunately, in this case, we responded in a timely fashion. Hopefully, we can now get this young man and his family the help they need,” Jawando said.
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