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Man Charged in Attempted Abduction of 7-Year-Old at Chilliwack School

Police seek witnesses to sightings of a purple mask to advance the investigation.

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man wore a bunny mask in an unsuccessful attempt to kidnap a child from a Chilliwack elementary school Wednesday, police say.

Overview

  • A man in a purple bunny-like mask tried to take a seven-year-old from Central Elementary on Wednesday morning, and a parent intervened and returned the child unharmed.
  • RCMP arrived just after 9 a.m., found a nearby suspect, and arrested him.
  • Police charged 49-year-old Joel McGillis with kidnapping a person under 16, and they say he did not know the child, with a court appearance set for Friday.
  • Online court records list past offenses for McGillis, including assault, assault with a weapon, theft, break-and-enter, and probation breaches dating to 2003.
  • Investigators ask anyone who was between Central Elementary and the 46000-block of Margaret Avenue from about 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. to report any sightings of a person in a purple mask to Chilliwack RCMP.