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Killeen Police: Man in ski mask tries to lure elementary school kids into car

The students said they were walking to school early Friday morning when a man in a ski mask asked them to get into his car.

The Killeen Independent School District notified parents Friday afternoon about a report of a man wearing a ski mask trying to lure students into his car.

Fowler Elementary Principal Joyce Lauer sent a recorded message to parents just before classes were dismissed at 3 p.m. Friday.

The message said a man tried to get the kids, who are 5th graders, into his car Friday morning as they walked to school. The children, ages 10 and 11, refused the man and continued to school, according to the district.

Killeen Police were investigating Friday, and Killeen ISD Police increased patrols in the area, according to a press release.

The man was described as being white, roughly six feet tall, with a medium build and a deep voice. He was last seen wearing a black polo-style shirt, black pants, black shoes, a red hat and a black face mask that covered the bottom of his face. He was driving a gray Toyota Corolla or Camry four-door sedan.

According to the press release, the students said they were walking along a sidewalk on Auburn Drive near Griffith Loop between 7:15 and 7:35 a.m. when the man approached them.

"Police and security officials are working closely with us at Fowler Elementary School to make sure students stay safe," Principal Lauer said in the message to parents. "We encourage parents this afternoon and every school day to help us to keep watch over our students as they travel to and from school. Please help us to remind students to never get into a car with or go somewhere with a stranger, and to always report any safety concern."

If you have any information that could help police locate the suspect, please call the Killeen Police Department at 254-501-8830 or click here to submit an anonymous web tip.

A full transcription of the school's message to parents is below.

“This is Joyce Lauer, principal of Fowler Elementary School, calling with an important message for parents regarding student safety.

Three Fowler Elementary School students who walked to school this morning have reported to us that they were approached by an unidentified man who tried to convince them to get into his car. The students said this man was a white male about 6-feet-one-inches tall and that he was wearing a half ski mask that partially covered his face, and he was holding car keys. The students said they did not see the man’s car. No one was harmed, and the three students made it safely to school.

The students said they were walking down a sidewalk on Auburn Drive near Griffith Loop when the man approached them.

Killeen Police are investigating, and the school district police department has increased police patrols in the area. Police and security officials are working closely with us at Fowler Elementary School to make sure students stay safe.

We encourage parents this afternoon and every school day to help us to keep watch over our students as they travel to and from school. Please help us to remind students to never get into a car with or go somewhere with a stranger, and to always report any safety concern.

Thank you. Again, this is Joyce Lauer, principal of Fowler Elementary School.”

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