Killer clown prank frightens children at downtown Toronto school
Posted October 5, 2016 6:32 pm.
Last Updated October 6, 2016 7:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The “killer clown” prank that’s sweeping social media has officially landed in Toronto after students at a downtown school were spooked by a person dressed as a creepy clown on Wednesday as classes were being dismissed for the day.
Police say they were called to Pope Francis Catholic School near Ossington Avenue and Dundas Street West just after 3 p.m.
Toronto police spokesperson Meaghan Gray told CityNews two suspects were making a video but said no charges were laid and the investigation is closed.
Toronto Catholic District School Board’s John Yan said the culprits were former students at the school who were trying to scare younger students. Only one was dressed as a clown, he noted.
They were apprehended by police and Yan said a letter was been sent home to parents (below) and appropriate measures are being taken.
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Is the ‘killer clown’ prank coming to Toronto?
On Tuesday, Toronto police said the trend hadn’t yet been reported in Toronto in spite of its popularity in the U.S.
“It is not illegal to dress up in a clown costume,” Const. Jennifer Sidhu said. “It’s the actions that the person does or takes while dressed up in any costume that will lead to them possibly being charged if it is an infraction against the criminal code.”
“We are aware of the incidents in the States, but as of now there is nothing on file of killer clowns in the city.”
It’s not clear if the prank is related to the movie ‘It’, based on the novel by Stephen King, featuring a demon that takes the form of a sadistic clown. The film is currently being remade in Toronto and set to be released in 2017.
The horror novelist tweeted about the trend earlier this week.
