ROCKVILLE, MD – Alex Ye, a former student of Montgomery County Public Schools, was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years in prison, with all but one year suspended, after being convicted of plotting a school shooting. The 19-year-old will serve his time at a local correctional facility and spend five years on supervised probation afterward.
Ye was arrested in April 2024 after police were alerted to a 129-page “manifesto” he had written, in which he discussed plans for a school shooting. The document, shared with someone he met during psychiatric treatment, described violent intentions targeting Wootton High School and Lakewood Elementary. That person reported the document to police, fearing an imminent threat.
Despite his conviction for making a threat of mass violence—a misdemeanor under Maryland law carrying a maximum 10-year sentence—Judge Jill Cummins opted for a shorter jail term. She explained that although prosecutors had asked for the full 10 years so Ye could access the Patuxent Youth Program for mental health treatment, uncertainty over his acceptance into the program, coupled with his prior refusal to fully cooperate with mental health assessments, made her hesitant.
Instead, Cummins imposed an unusual sentence: Ye must appear before her every two weeks during his probation to report on his progress. His attorney has four months to develop a detailed treatment plan for his reintegration following release. Cummins emphasized her ongoing concern, stating, “My eyes will remain on you.”
Ye, who has been jailed for about 13 months already, chose to waive that time served as credit. He spoke briefly during sentencing but did not address the threats or express remorse, which Cummins said troubled her.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy praised the judge for taking a hands-on role in Ye’s supervision and applauded law enforcement for preventing a potential tragedy. “This case had many of the warning signs we’ve seen in actual shootings—and thanks to proactive efforts, it didn’t happen,” McCarthy said.
The investigation, conducted jointly by Montgomery County Police and the FBI, found that Ye’s manifesto described detailed plans for a shooting, internet searches, drawings, and additional documents supporting the threat. Ye had previously made threats in 2022 and had a documented history of suicidal and homicidal thoughts.
Although Ye was enrolled at Wootton High School, he had not attended classes there since fall 2022. He is expected to return to court in September with a finalized treatment plan. Prosecutors noted he could be eligible for parole and released in under six months.
