Southeastern Massachusetts teen accused of threatening to shoot up school granted bail

An 18-year-old Massachusetts teen has been granted bail after his alleged role in making threats about conducting a school shooting. 

According to Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois and Falmouth Police Chief Jeff Lourie, in August, Falmouth Police Department officers received alarming reports about an individual named Ian Fotheringham. The information suggested that Fotheringham had expressed intentions to carry out a school shooting, though no particular school was mentioned. He also reportedly mentioned restoring guns in his bedroom. Police conducted a consensual search of his home but discovered no unlawful weapons.

In early September, Falmouth School District safety personnel alerted police to a suspicious person near one of the district’s schools. The monitors observed a male wandering through the wooded area behind the building and grew worried that he might be scouting the location. Officers later confirmed the man’s identity as Ian Fotheringham.

Subsequent inquiries revealed images of the Columbine High School shooting on Fotheringham’s phone. A court-authorized search of his residence uncovered a sizable 3D printer designed for fabricating firearms. On September 11th around 12:30 p.m., detectives from the Massachusetts State Police unit attached to the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office, along with Falmouth Police, took Fotheringham into custody and brought him to Falmouth Police headquarters.

The following day, September 12th, Fotheringham appeared in Barnstable District Court for arraignment on a charge of threatening to use a deadly weapon in a public facility.

The judge ordered him detained until Tuesday where, according to court records, Fotheringham was issued $25,000 surety bond or $2,500 cash bail, however, he could not immediately post bail and was transported back to jail.

If he posts bail, he is not allowed to possess any weapons, must comply with mental health treatment, and will be on house arrest with GPS monitoring.

Fotheringham has a hearing to review status on Wednesday and a motion to dismiss on October 6th.