Police in Fredericksburg are trying to track down a person who, according to investigators and a parent, put on a bunny-style animal costume and chased several children at a school bus stop Thursday. The kids managed to get away and were not physically hurt, but a parent says they are badly shaken. One child reportedly snapped a photo of the costumed figure, and that image is now in the hands of investigators.
What parents told reporters
A mother who spoke with local media said her two children and several classmates were waiting at a bus stop when they first noticed someone in a full bunny costume nearby. She says that after the school bus left, the person crossed the street and began running after the kids. As reported by FOX 5 DC, she recounted that one girl was nearly grabbed before her sister yanked her away. The family shared a recorded interview with the station, which reports that the children are traumatized and that the family is urging anyone with information to speak up.
Police investigating, asking for tips
The Fredericksburg Police Department confirms it is aware of the report and has opened an investigation. The department is asking anyone with tips to call Fredericksburg police at 540-373-3122 or dial 911 if there is immediate danger. Those contact details are also listed on the city’s police pages. So far, officials have not released a suspect description beyond the costume, and no arrests had been announced as of publication time.
Parents, schools and neighbors on alert
Neighbors and parents have been trading details and a purported photo in a local community thread, warning others to stay alert. Those posts include a description and a time that police have not confirmed. A local Reddit thread described the outfit as pink with a red jacket and brown boots and put the encounter at about 4:30 p.m., but investigators have not verified those specifics. School and transportation staff are reminding families to keep children in sight at bus stops and to report any suspicious behavior on the spot.
Costumed scares have regional history
While detectives work to sort out exactly what happened, the sight of costumed figures near children has a longer and stranger history in the region and beyond, from the decades-old “Bunny Man” lore in Northern Virginia to the 2016 wave of clown sightings that led to police warnings in multiple states. Fairfax County’s local history office has documented the Bunny Man legend and its origins (Fairfax County Research), and national reporting has tracked how quickly copycat reports can spread in the internet age (The Washington Post). That history has helped shape how local authorities and parents respond whenever someone in an animal or mascot-style outfit shows up near schools.
Anyone who recognizes the person in the photo or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Fredericksburg police at 540-373-3122 or send a tip through the department’s online channels. If you see someone and a child appears to be in danger, call 911 immediately.
