ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A former U.S. Naval Academy midshipman from northwest Indiana has been arrested and charged with transmitting a threat across state lines following last week’s lockdown at the academy in Maryland, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Jackson Fleming, 23, of Chesterton, Indiana, was arrested Friday for allegedly posting an online threat through a social media app about the Naval Academy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana. He faces one federal count of transmitting a threat in interstate communication.
Fleming’s attorney, Jonathan Bedi, said in an email, “We intend to fight these charges in court vigorously. No one, including Jack, should be judged by a mere accusation from the government. We are prepared to mount the strongest possible defense, and I am confident that when the complete facts emerge, Jack will be vindicated.”
The Naval Academy confirmed Fleming attended from June 30, 2021, until Jan. 5, 2024.
The online threat triggered a lockdown at the academy last Thursday, prompting a heavy security response to what turned out to be a false report of a gunman. During the confusion, a midshipman who mistook security personnel for a threat was shot in the shoulder. That student was released from the hospital Friday. A member of the naval security force also sustained minor injuries and has since been treated and released.
Academy officials said there was no active shooter.
The false report came amid heightened anxiety after several recent high-profile incidents of violence at schools and colleges nationwide.
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