A 72,000-ladybug prank led to criminal charges for a group of graduating seniors at Chopticon High School in Maryland last week.
According to ABC News, five suspects dressed in masks and hoodies broke into the school’s back entrance around 3:40 a.m. on May 20 to spread the ladybugs. Two others reportedly waited by a car outside the building and did not enter.
The students were identified, and the four juveniles in the group are being charged with fourth-degree burglary, property destruction under $1,000, and disruption of school activities while the three adult males who were involved will receive criminal summonses, police told ABC.
Senior Eric Maxey, who did not take part in the prank, told ABC that students ordered the ladybugs online for $100, and around 75 seniors donated money to help pay for it.
“Everyone was obviously laughing the next morning because it was so unique,” Maxey said. “It didn’t cause any damage and the school had already bagged up most of them by our second period.”
It’s “our school’s 50th graduating class,” he continued, “and this was us leaving our mark in a memorable way.”
Sophomore Trinity Alexander told ABC janitors from local schools were recruited to help clean up the bugs with vacuums.
One of the seniors involved in the prank has been prohibited by school officials from walking at the graduation ceremony Wednesday.
Students have been protesting the graduation decision, Alexander, who helped plan the demonstration, told ABC.
Twitter users shared their thoughts on the prank and the school’s handling of it:
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