Updated Oct. 6 at 9:05 a.m. This story incorrectly stated that police charged a man with sexual assault after he dressed as a clown and grabbed a Texas State student. The two cases are unrelated and the story has been changed to reflect this.

The suspect in the clown assault on the Texas State campus is still at large. The male suspect was described as 6 feet, 2 inches tall with an "athletic build." The suspect was reported to be wearing a clown costume described as a black-and-white striped jumpsuit, a green wig, face painted white with black around the eyes.


Updated Oct. 5 at 3:51 p.m.

According to an email sent out to residents today, management at Sanctuary Lofts, 350 N. St., San Marcos, received reports of a person dressed as a clown holding what appeared to be a chainsaw on apartment property just after 9 p.m. last night.

No one was harmed during the incident, the email stated, and the San Marcos Police Department was notified and is investigating. There will be additional patrols of the complex by both the city police and Sanctuary Loft's courtesy officer, according to the email. Sanctuary Lofts is located near the Texas State University campus.

Management reminded residents to keep their doors and windows locked at all times and to use peepholes to confirm the identity of anyone who knocks on their doors.

Updated Oct. 5 at 9:11 a.m.


San Marcos CISD released a statement Oct. 4 addressing rumors of a threat made against the district on social media by a person posing as a clown after concerned parents of San Marcos High School students reached out to the district.

According to the news release, the district and law enforcement are monitoring social media accounts making threats against schools in Texas. When school administration became aware of posts targeting San Marcos High School specifically, students involved in outside activities Oct. 4 were brought inside, and the district increased monitoring of the campus perimeter, the release stated.

Public Information Officer Tim Savoy said there were no updates in the Hays CISD clown threat case and that police are still investigating the threats made against Lehman High School last week.

At nearby Texas State University, the University Police Department released an emergency warning to students, faculty and staff after receiving reports of an assault committed by a man dressed as a clown outside of a student residence hall Oct. 4. According to the release, an active investigation is ongoing.

Posted Sept. 30

Parents of students attending Hays CISD schools received letters Sept. 30 stating that school resource officers from the Hays County Sheriff's Office as well as school administrators are investigating a possible threat made against Lehman High School by a person posing as a clown.

According to the letter, a rumor spread that there may have been a threatening post made about Lehman High School from a social media account that was later taken down.  

"We have no reason, at this time, to believe that there is any credible threat to the safety of students or staff members, even if a clown threat was posted," Public Information Officer Tim Savoy said in the letter.

Lehman High School is one of several schools in the Austin area that received such threats, the letter stated, part of what is being called a nationally circulated social media hoax involving clowns.

"Several people nationally have been arrested in recent weeks for making false clown threats, and they face serious consequences," Savoy said. "Threatening schools is a serious and criminal matter, even if a person posting on social media thinks it is only a joke."

No operational changes were made at the school Sept. 30 as a result of the rumor.