A disturbing incident at Black Forest Hills Elementary School in Aurora, Colorado, was captured on surveillance footage, showing a transgender sex offender, Solomon Galligan, allegedly attempting to snatch a child during recess. The footage depicts the kids running away in terror as the suspected abductor runs towards them, with some yelling “Stranger danger.” The situation continued to escalate as the suspect closed in on one of the children, tripping while trying to grab the child with a white blanket. A teacher’s assistant yelled at the suspect who eventually fled the scene before being apprehended at a nearby Walgreens.
Galligan, who identifies as male, was charged with one count of attempted kidnapping and put on the sex offender registry in 2011 for non-consent sexual contact. His family blamed mental health issues for his behavior, citing depression during his transition while taking male hormones. The school district released the surveillance footage and vowed to investigate and improve safety protocols following the incident. Parents of the affected children expressed shock and fear, calling for an independent investigation, administrative leave, and terminations of responsible individuals within the school administration.
The parents were shown the disturbing video by the school district, leading to outrage and demands for accountability for the individuals who failed to protect the children. The incident raised concerns about the safety of the students in the care of supposed trained professionals. Galligan disclosed his transition on social media in 2011, expressing excitement and anticipation for the changes hormone therapy would bring. However, his criminal history and the details of the 2011 non-consent sexual contact incident were not immediately clear.
Galligan’s $25,000 bail and court appearance scheduled for Thursday indicate the seriousness of the charges against him. His actions at Black Forest Hills Elementary School forced the students to run in terror, sparking fear and concern among parents and the school community. The safety of the children and the failure of the school administration to prevent the incident have led to calls for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible. As the case progresses, it highlights the importance of maintaining a safe environment for students and the need for proper protocols to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
