By Editor,Lauren Acton-Taylor

Copyright dailymail

A smirking teen accused of plotting a school shooting has been released on a tiny bail, leaving parents in an upmarket Cape Cod neighborhood fuming at the judge and education bosses.

Ian Fotheringham, 18, sat before the Barnstable District Court on Tuesday after he was accused of plotting a school shooting in Falmouth.

Judge Kristen A. Stone then ruled to release him from custody on a measly $2,500 bail with electronic monitoring.

The teen appeared unbothered by the ruling, and is even said to have taunted the furious parents who were seated behind him.

‘He turned around and laughed at us when he got his decision,’ parent Dianna Wilson, who was among parents wearing the school color at the hearing, tearfully told Boston 25 News.

‘He doesn’t care. He’s not afraid of what’s going to happen, we’re afraid because those are our kids those are our babies and we cant go to school with them everyday.’

The Falmouth teen was arrested on September 11 after Fotheringham allegedly displayed a pattern of alarming behavior, and he was charged with threatening to use a deadly weapon in a public building.

Falmouth Police were alerted to the teen after a report alleged Fotheringham said he wanted to shoot up a school, with no specification as to which school he would allegedly target, and had been refurbishing firearms in his room, the District Attorney’s Office said in a release.

While no guns were found in his home after a search was conducted by the FPD, a 3D printer capable of making firearms was discovered.

Police also found photos ‘from the dark web’ of the Columbine High School shooting, including pictures of ‘bloody victims on the ground,’ on the teen’s phone.

Court documents reviewed by WHDH indicated Fotheringham journaled about the shooting and told mental health counselors he wanted to shoot up a school and take his own life to be remembered.

The teen was also reportedly identified as the person ‘casing’ Teaticket Elementary School after spotted a man in the wooded area behind it on September 3.

A teacher said that the man had been taking photos or videos of the school and left after security approached him.

Concerns were first raised about the teenager in October 2024, CBS reports, when he allegedly made threats against Falmouth High School, where he had been studying.

Fotheringham’s attorney, Krysten Condon, said: ‘All of the things they’re saying that tie Ian to Teaticket school were not found, and we know he was not there, your honor, because he was home that day vomiting, sick with his mother, who is a stay at home mother, who was with him all day.’

Condon argued it was a case of mistaken identity, the man spotted was reported to be five foot eleven with brown hair. Fotheringham is five foot five with black hair.

Yet Stone’s ruling has outraged parents throughout the district, as many fear sending their child back to school.

Parent Amanda McGonicle told WHDH that ‘communication has long been an issue.’

‘This was an opportunity to show us that you’re ready to communicate and she dropped the ball big time,’ McGonicle added.

‘We don’t know what he’s going to do or where he’s going to go,’ Dianna Wilson also told Boston 25 News.

‘We’re left with the decision of whether to send our children to school, knowing their lives could be at risk.’

One parent, Tammy Inman, wrote on Facebook: ‘Moms and dads of Falmouth we need to get to work.

‘The things that came to light today during and after the hearing, have my stomach in knots. My heart hurts for so many. Tonight I saw parents I know and love in tears and in fear to send their babies to school,’ she added.

‘I can’t say that I blame any parent who is absolutely livid with our superintendent. Our children’s safety should be her number one priority. Bottom line.’

Community members and fellow parents fumed in the comments of her post, expressing outrage at the court system and the school for the handling of the situation.

Jaclyn Mark McMurray, a parent and employee of the Falmouth school district, said she has been ‘spinning, anxious, angry and so sad talking to my two older kids about the world the past two days.’

Another parent, Jann Furlong, wrote in a separate post: ‘This whole mess is unacceptable!

‘Madam superintendent of our Falmouth schools… you need to apologize to every child, parent, teacher, aid, nurse, bus driver, their aides, neighbors of our schools, grandparents… for the lack of information and concern that was shown during this horrific time… you need to resign and feel remorse… those are our babies… now he is out on bail… good god… why,’ she continued.

Falmouth Public Schools Superintendent Lori Duerr told parents in an email obtained by WHDH that police officers would be placed at each of the town’s elementary schools for at least the next two weeks.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Falmouth High School, Falmouth Public Schools and Teaticket Elementary School for comment.

Fotheringham will need to wear an ankle monitor and continue receiving mental health care treatment upon release.

He will only be allowed to leave his home for legal or medical purposes, and a separate motion will need to be filed for him to be able to return to school.