A person donning a cartoonish Pink Panther-like costume has been accused of hunting down local Fredericksburg, Virginia school kids in broad daylight. A person donning a cartoonish Pink Panther-like costume has been accused of hunting down local Virginia school kids in broad daylight, the New York Post reported. Police are on the lookout for the person, seen in a video doing the rounds on social media, who reportedly followed children in Fredericksburg, Virginia, last week. The person nearly snatched up a little girl, per the outlet.Fredericksburg police searching for man in creepy Pink Panther-like costume hunting down school kids (Fredericksburg Police Department, @CollinRugg/X/Facebook)The Fredericksburg Police Department shared an update in a Facebook post, writing, “On Thursday, May 14, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Fredericksburg E-911 Center received a report of suspicious activity in the Lafayette Boulevard corridor. The suspect (pictured) is described as wearing a pink costume and was reported to have been following children. The Fredericksburg Police Department takes these incidents seriously and has increased patrols in the Lafayette Boulevard corridor. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities immediately.”“The investigation remains ongoing, and the Fredericksburg Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance. Anyone who has seen or interacted with the suspect is urged to contact the Fredericksburg Police Department at 540-373-3122. To make an anonymous tip, send a text to “847-411” and text “FPDtip” followed by your tip. Or, download the free FPD Tip app available for Android and iPhones. To download the app, search “FPD Tip” in the Google or iTunes App Store,” the post added.Read More | ‘I bit him’: Miami girl, 6, bravely fights off man trying to kidnap herWhat we know so farThe alleged predator reportedly trailed a group of terrified children fresh off the school bus in Fredericksburg. A shocking video shows him prowling along the grassy roadside near the Lafayette Boulevard corridor.A local resident shared images of the man in the pink costume, writing on X, “Hey Fredericksburg friends/parents- We had quite the scare yesterday.. This man stared down my son and one of the older neighbors from across the road. *(Lafayette Blvd) Thats when this picture was snapped. He was walking towards Family Dollar. Spotted them and walked back towards them and was standing- staring at them close to the intersection of **Lafayette and Longstreet Avenue.”Read More | Virginia: Amid missing children rumors, Netizens say ‘creepy’ ice cream truck being spotted every nightThe resident added, “He looked like he wanted to cross. But could not bc of traffic. When the bus came. It stopped traffic and he got the opportunity to cross Lafayette. When my daughter and a little neighbor girl got off the bus. And it drove away.. He chased after all 4 kids and tried to grab the little girl (slowest) her sister pulled her away and they got away. A car drove by them (Scaring him?) and he turned and ran away. We drove around looking for him. Asked everyone outside if they saw him. No one saw him. He just vanished.”The resident further said that they made a police report and transportation was notified. The children said that there was a hole in the costume near the person’s eye, and the individual looked like a man.“Had facial hair and he appeared to have a tan complexion,” the post said.The person was seen in a bizarre pink costume, plus a red and black plaid shirt draped over it and cowboy boots. A small bag was seen dangling from his neck.Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read MoreSee Less