Senior Prank Involving 72K Ladybugs Ends Poorly

A new entry in the senior-prank-gone-awry category: A number of Maryland high school students found themselves on the wrong side of the law after allegedly breaking into their high school at 3:40am Wednesday and dispersing 72,000 ladybugs. The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office has identified seven suspects: Police say five mask- and hoodie-clad males broke into Chopticon High School by busting in a door, triggering an alarm; two others remained in the car. My Fox DC reports six were seniors at the school and one was an alumnus. NBC Washington reports the ladybugs were purchased online.

Four are juveniles and have been hit with fourth-degree burglary, property destruction under $1,000, and disruption of school activities charges, reports WUSA-TV; the other three will be charged as adults by criminal summons. There also have been consequences at the school, consequences some students are protesting as unfair: They say one male who was involved got the green light to play in the baseball state championship game post-prank, but that the class president is being barred from giving a speech at tomorrow's graduation. (An entire Ohio school district was forced to cancel school this month over a prank.)