Convergent Ladybug Beetle
Six high school seniors and one alumnus of Chopticon High School are facing criminal charges for releasing 72,000 ladybugs into the school building.
Around 3:30 a.m. last Wednesday morning, the students and alum broke into the Maryland school and released 72,000 ladybugs, which they ordered on Amazon. By the time students and teachers arrived later that morning, the ladybugs were everywhere. In an interview with Fox 5, student Trinity Alexander recalls, “I saw one ladybug passing me, and then all of a sudden, there was like a thousand… It was just, like, funny. I wasn’t even, like, mad about it, really. I was like, ‘Oh my god, ladybugs, they’re like in my hair,’ but I mean, they were just, like, ladybugs.”
When the students broke into the school, they set off the burglary alarm, which the police had to respond to, and now all seven culprits are facing criminal charges for burglary, property destruction, and disruption of school activities. Four of them will be charged as minors, but the other three will be charged as adults. Additionally, the students will face consequences from the school, including not being allowed to participate in their graduation ceremony, but some students are accusing the school of double-standards with their punishments:
Friends are outraged that [Brian] Reminga will not be able to walk at his graduation and the class president will not be able give a speech at the ceremony either. This after they say another one of the students involved was allowed to play in the baseball state championship game after the prank, which the school won.
Students are also questioning whether it’s a good idea in the long run for the culprits to face criminal charges and if it will hurt their chances of finding work or continuing their education:
“I don’t think that they should go straight out of high school with these criminal records that’s going to make them not get a job, get into college,” said Trinity Alexander.
The graduation ceremony will be held Wednesday, and so far, the school is standing by their decision.
Source: Fox 5 DC