A chaotic lockdown at the U.S. Naval Academy on Thursday evening was triggered by online threats traced to a disgraced former midshipman, Navy officials confirmed. The event, which ended with a midshipman being shot by security forces, has since been declared under control with no credible threat to the academy.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s office released a statement late Thursday evening after coordinating with law enforcement at all levels:
“In working with law enforcement authorities at every level, there is currently no credible threat to the Naval Academy.”
That statement came after hours of tense lockdown conditions on the Annapolis campus, prompted by social media threats designed to appear as if they originated from within the Academy grounds.
Investigators have now confirmed that the threats were authored by Jackson Elliott Fleming, a former midshipman who had recently been expelled from the Academy.
🚨🇺🇸#BREAKING | NEWS ⚠️
— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) September 11, 2025
Shooter at Bancroft, US Naval Academy reports of gun shots inside the dorm suspect believed to be Jackson Elliot Fleming, a prior mid shipment who was kicked out of the academy for drugs the Academy in Annapolis is on complete lockdown. Multiple… pic.twitter.com/u9AZh0hgZG
Fleming allegedly used an anonymous account and masked his IP address to make it appear as though the threats were coming from inside the Naval Academy, prompting Naval Support Activity Annapolis and local authorities to initiate an immediate response at 5:07 p.m.
Out of caution, all midshipmen were ordered to shelter in place. Security teams began sweeping buildings while coordinating with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
As Naval Security Forces cleared one of the buildings, a midshipman sheltering inside mistook a law enforcement officer for an intruder. Acting on instinct, the midshipman struck the officer with a training weapon. The officer, believing he was under attack in a possible active threat scenario, responded with live fire.
The midshipman was medevaced by Maryland State Police helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center and is reportedly in stable condition and expected to recover.
Video from SkyTeam 11 showed students sprinting into Naval Academy buildings with their hands raised, highlighting the confusion and urgency of the moment. The false impression of an active shooter on campus—amplified by the digital manipulation of Fleming’s IP address—resulted in the type of rapid tactical response seen at mass casualty events nationwide.
Maryland Representative Sarah Elfreth issued a statement praising the swift response of security personnel and emergency medical teams, noting:
“Our midshipmen are our best and brightest young Americans, and like all students, they deserve to feel safe on campus. Thankfully, the midshipman who was injured during the clearing of a building is in stable condition.”
She also acknowledged the all-too-frequent nature of such lockdown events, even in secure military environments.
While the immediate threat has been resolved, questions now swirl about how easily a former student was able to instigate such a large-scale emergency through digital subterfuge. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and other federal authorities are expected to pursue criminal charges against Jackson Elliott Fleming.
Officials have yet to confirm what specific platform or service Fleming used to issue the threats or whether he acted alone.
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