Southeastern Massachusetts Teen Arraigned, Accused of Allegedly Preparing for School Shooting
FALMOUTH, MA – An 18-year-old Southeastern Massachusetts resident, Ian Fotheringham, was arraigned in Barnstable District Court on September 12th, facing charges related to threats of a school shooting, according to Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert galibois and Falmouth Police Chief Jeff Lourie.
the investigation began in August when the Falmouth Police Department received reports that Fotheringham had expressed intentions to carry out a school shooting, though no specific school was identified. Initial reports also indicated he had discussed possessing guns in his bedroom. A subsequent consensual search of his residence by police did not uncover any illegal weapons.
Concerns escalated in early September when Falmouth School District safety personnel reported a suspicious individual near a school building. Monitors observed a male subject walking through wooded areas behind the school, raising concerns he may have been surveying the location. Police identified the individual as Ian Fotheringham.
Further investigation revealed images related to the Columbine High School shooting on Fotheringham’s phone. A court-authorized search of his home then uncovered a substantial 3D printer capable of fabricating firearms.
On September 11th, at approximately 12:30 p.m., detectives from the Massachusetts State Police unit assigned to the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office, alongside Falmouth Police officers, took Fotheringham into custody at Falmouth Police headquarters.
Fotheringham was arraigned on a charge of threatening to use a deadly weapon in a public facility. The judge ordered him held without bail pending a September 16th hearing to determine if he poses a public safety risk.
The investigation is a collaborative effort between the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit for the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office and the Falmouth Police Department.
District Attorney Galibois praised the teamwork between the state and local law enforcement agencies. The Cape & Islands District attorney’s Office reiterated that all accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
