Watch: Person dressed as ‘Bigfoot’ lurks outside local school, prompting lockdown
OBERLIN, Ohio (WJW) — A school district in Lorain County went into lockdown on Wednesday when school officials said an “unannounced visitor came to the campus dressed in costume.”
Based on videos posted to social media, the “unannounced visitor” appeared to be a person dressed as Bigfoot.
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School officials later confirmed to FOX 8 News that it was a person dressed as a “menacing-looking Bigfoot.”
According to a Wednesday letter to parents from the Firelands Local Schools superintendent, the unknown person parked in a school parking lot and crossed the campus while in costume but never entered any of the buildings.
“During this time, some students at FES were outside and had to move quickly inside to safety. The school day was negatively impacted and although lockdown drills are practiced regularly, the situation caused understandable concern and disruption,” read the letter to parents. “While some people may make light of the situation, the fact remains that we cannot waiver from the side of safety.”
According to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the person inside the costume appears to have been a parent who came to the school property as part of a “prom prank.” Officials said the school resource officer was able to pull the person over as part of a traffic stop.
Beneath a post to the school district’s Facebook page regarding the lockdown, videos and pictures of the situation were shared, and garnered a variety of responses.
One person said, “It was hilarious.” But also noted, “It is actually kinda scary when you think about it. There were a lot of kids close to the windows and not a single one of them felt it was suspicious. I don’t know all the details of who it was or anything but I hope this teaches kids we can’t be pranking schools as mythical creatures.”
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Another posted: “Back in the day everyone would’ve just laughed at the prank. Totally different world now, unfortunately.”
According to Captain Daniel Ashdown with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, a report will be sent to the Oberlin prosecutor for review and to determine if charges will be pressed.
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