Federal authorities arrested Jackson Fleming, 23, of Chesterton, Indiana, on September 12, 2025, following an online threat he allegedly sent through a social media application targeting the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on September 11. The complaint, approved by a magistrate judge in the Northern District of Indiana, charges Fleming with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate communication under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). Fleming made his initial court appearance in the Northern District of Indiana on September 15.
The threat prompted a lockdown at the Naval Academy, where midshipmen sheltering in place mistook a naval security force member for an intruder, leading to an altercation that injured both a midshipman and the officer. The midshipman, who struck the officer with a parade rifle, sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was medically evacuated to a hospital, where officials reported stable condition before release the next day. The officer suffered minor injuries and received treatment before discharge. Authorities confirmed no active shooter was present, attributing the incident to confusion during the response.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, and M. Scott Proctor, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, announced the arrest alongside William J. DelBagno, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, and Timothy J. O’Malley, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. Hayes commended the FBI for leading the investigation and thanked the Porter County Sheriff’s Office, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Naval Academy personnel for their assistance. She also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Sohn for prosecution and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert I. Goldaris for support in the case.
A criminal complaint represents a temporary charge and does not constitute evidence of guilt, requiring subsequent information or indictment for formal federal proceedings. If convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), Fleming faces up to five years in federal prison and potential fines, as the statute prohibits transmitting any communication in interstate commerce containing a threat to kidnap or injure another person. This provision, part of Title 18’s broader framework on interstate communications, applies to threats conveyed via social media, telephone, or other channels crossing state lines, emphasizing the federal interest in protecting public safety from disruptive communications.
Fleming, identified as a former midshipman who attended the Naval Academy from June 30, 2021, to January 2023, allegedly used a laptop traced to his parents’ home in the Midwest to post the threat on an anonymous chat platform, spoofing an IP address to appear on campus. The post circulated rumors of an active shooter possibly disguised as law enforcement, heightening panic amid national concerns over swatting incidents—false reports designed to provoke emergency responses. Such tactics have surged on college campuses, including a similar false shooter alert at the University of Massachusetts Boston hours earlier that day.
The Naval Academy, situated on the Severn River in Annapolis, trains about 4,500 midshipmen annually to commission as Navy or Marine Corps officers. Established in 1845, it operates under the Department of the Navy and emphasizes rigorous academics, physical training, and leadership development. Incidents like this underscore vulnerabilities in military educational institutions, where threats can disrupt operations and endanger personnel. Federal law enforcement’s rapid response, involving the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force protocols for online threats, traced the origin within hours, preventing escalation.
The statute’s enforcement reflects a federal priority on interstate threats, particularly those affecting national security assets like military academies. Prosecutors must prove the communication was willful and a reasonable person would interpret it as a serious expression of intent to inflict harm, without requiring actual injury or extortion motive. Case law, including U.S. Supreme Court precedents like Virginia v. Black (2003), balances First Amendment protections against unprotected true threats, guiding courts in evaluating context like the platform’s anonymity.
As proceedings advance, the case will proceed in the Northern District of Indiana, with potential transfer to Maryland if venue shifts. Fleming remains in custody pending further hearings, serving as a reminder of the legal consequences for communications that cross state lines and compromise security.
