Student expelled for creating ‘Auburn Killer Clown’ account

An Auburn High School student has been expelled for creating an “Auburn Killer Clown” account on social media, police said Wednesday.

Officers are investigating the account, but said there was no credible threat associated with it and that schools remain in session.

The account has been disabled but appeared to be a Facebook page, which was circulated among students at several schools in the city.

The student’s age and gender were not released.

A nationwide hoax about creepy clowns luring children or lingering in unexpected places recently reached the South Sound, prompting reports of clown sightings and students threatening or trying to scare each other with clowns.

Earlier this week, students at Rogers High School in Puyallup received death threat text messages from a purported clown, prompting a modified lockdown on campus during lunch Tuesday.

Two clown masks were found outside the school in a wooded area after students reported seeing clowns lurking outisde.

At least 17 clown sightings have been reported to the Sheriff’s Department since Sept. 1. No clowns have been spotted committing a crime.

Law enforcement officials have expressed frustration about wasted resources and concern that someone is going to get hurt.

Auburn police asked parents to speak to their children about the hoax.

“Though kids may think these types of ‘pranks’ are simply light-hearted ‘kids being kids’… in this day and age, they are much more than that. They are a threat and taken just as that,” according to a police statement.

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 8:51 AM with the headline "Student expelled for creating ‘Auburn Killer Clown’ account."