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Ex-Midshipman Charged in Hoax Threat That Locked Down Naval Academy

A detention hearing is set for Sept. 22 following an FBI- and NCIS-led investigation.

Overview

  • Federal prosecutors say Jackson Fleming, 23, of Chesterton, Indiana, was arrested Friday and charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate communication, a charge that carries up to five years in prison if convicted.
  • The complaint stems from a Sept. 11 social media post that triggered an hourslong lockdown in Annapolis; academy officials later said there was no active shooter.
  • During the response, a midshipman struck a security officer with a parade rifle after mistaking him for a threat, and the officer shot the student in the shoulder; both were treated and released.
  • Investigators traced the post to a device associated with a recently dismissed midshipman and reporting indicates the threat was made to appear as if it originated on campus; the FBI and NCIS led the probe with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff's Office.
  • Fleming remains in custody ahead of the Sept. 22 hearing, and his attorney, Jonathan Bedi, has vowed to contest the case and filed a motion seeking government witness statements.