A chilling incident has emerged from a tranquil town in Rhode Island, where a figure cloaked in Ku Klux Klan robes was captured on video, causing unease among residents. The unsettling scene unfolded in the dead of night, sparking concern and prompting a police investigation.
In the early hours of Monday, around 2 a.m., the solitary, hooded figure was observed meandering down Main Street in West Warwick. This eerie sight was recorded by Ryan Fitzgerald and his brother, who were driving through the area. The brothers had no doubts about the nature of the costume, which was distinctly recognizable.
“When you see a pointy hood and two eyeballs staring at you, I mean, what else could it be?” Fitzgerald remarked, expressing his disbelief. “It didn’t resemble the Boogieman; it unmistakably looked like the KKK to me.”
Fitzgerald, reflecting on the encounter, noted, “It’s strange because, while I’m aware of racism existing here, it’s never appeared at this extreme level.” The incident left a lasting impression on the brothers, particularly when the robed individual turned to look directly at them, prompting them to quickly leave the scene out of fear for their safety.
The video, which was recorded near the Main Street gazebo, has since led to an ongoing investigation by local authorities, as reported by WJAR. The community is now left grappling with the reality of such blatant expressions of hate in their midst.
At one point, Fitzgerald said, the robed person looked directly at them — and they immediately took off, not knowing if he could be armed.
“[We] were just like, ‘Holy crap, I gotta get the hell out of here,’” he said.
The video has since spread across social media and has spooked the quiet community, located about 13 miles south of Providence.
Leslie Letourneau, owner of Candy’s Curiosities & Vintage, also captured the costumed character on her business’s surveillance footage and called the police.
“It was really upsetting to think somebody would walk around like that period … and then it felt personal when it was in my store or in front of my store,” Letourneau said.
“It churned my stomach to watch that,” she added.
Town officials confirmed that police are investigating the incident but provided no additional details.
The Post has reached out to the West Warwick Police Department for additional information.
