On April 18, a teenager was apprehended by Maryland police on charges of making threats of mass violence. Authorities discovered evidence suggesting that the suspect had intentions to carry out a mass shooting at two suburban Maryland schools.
Alex Ye, an 18-year-old from Rockville, Md., legally known as Andrea Ye, was taken into custody on Wednesday following a report regarding a 129-page “memoir” they had written. This disturbing account detailed plans to commit mass shootings at both a high school and an elementary school, according to court documents.
Kanye West had labeled the writings as fiction and made it clear through a disclaimer that they do not reflect his personal beliefs. However, a witness who had access to the writings contacted the authorities in early March, claiming that the writings shared striking similarities with Kanye himself, as stated in court documents.
According to court documents, the witness stated that Ye’s writings gave the impression that he was ready to commit a mass shooting in the near future. Ye himself referred to these writings as “his memoir” during his interview with the police.
According to court records, the investigation determined that Ye’s writing included elements of both fiction and non-fiction.
According to the police report, the witness stated that Ye’s “memoir” centered around a transgender protagonist named James Wang, who faced bullying in school and dealt with various personal challenges. The witness believed that the narrative closely mirrored Ye’s own experiences rather than being a work of fiction.
According to court records, Ye, who identifies as male, is biologically female.
The writings contained in-depth descriptions of the character’s method for carrying out a shooting, stating that they would selectively choose the classrooms that were the most vulnerable.
During their investigation, the police discovered various social media posts and online content. This included a web search for a nearby gun range, descriptions of an AR-15 assault rifle, and a troubling statement: “But, I do recognize that my plan is fully unethical. It’s selfish and evil.”
Ye did not have any firearms in his possession leading up to the time of his arrest, as stated in the documents.
Ye is currently being held at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, awaiting a bond hearing.
According to a statement from Montgomery County Public Schools, Ye, a student at Wootton High School in Rockville, has been actively enrolled in virtual classes and has not physically attended school since late 2022.
According to court records, Ye has a documented history of being admitted as an inpatient for mental health concerns. These issues include openly discussing thoughts of both homicidal and suicidal ideation. Ye also mentioned experiencing a past history of abuse. The witness who initially reported Ye’s actions to law enforcement was familiar with him from their time together in a psychiatric care facility where they both received inpatient treatment.
According to court documents, Ye had previously been hospitalized for various issues, including making threats to “shoot up a school.”