A rapist was going to kidnap a child and was filmed! But he was released for 'mental health' reasons.

Outrage erupted in Colorado (USA) after a man, identified as Solomon Galligan, was filmed attempting to kidnap an 11-year-old boy during recess… and still walked free. The reason: authorities determined he cannot stand trial due to his “mental incompetence.”

The case has sparked a heated debate in the United States about the limits of the judicial system and the use of mental status as a legal argument to avoid criminal prosecution, even in the face of compelling evidence such as a video.

The incident occurred in April 2024 at Black Forest Hills Elementary School in Aurora, Colorado. During recess, security cameras captured the moment when a man—later identified as Galligan, 33—chased an 11-year-old boy, attempted to restrain him, and caused panic among the students.

Galligan was arrested by local police shortly after the incident. Authorities confirmed he was already a registered sex offender, with his record linked to Pueblo County.

Despite the background and images widely circulated by media outlets such as FOX31 and KDVR, the legal process did not progress as many had hoped.

Last Friday, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office—which covers Arapahoe County, where Aurora is located —confirmed that the charges will be dropped. The reasoning: a psychiatric evaluation concluded that Galligan is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

“We are required by law to drop charges if a person is unfit to stand trial,” the prosecutor’s office told FOX31.

Controversy quickly erupted. For many parents, the decision represents a mockery of justice, especially given the audiovisual evidence and a criminal record.

"It doesn't matter whether he's guilty or not, the law simply doesn't allow us to move forward with the case in its current state," said a spokesperson for the Public Ministry.

Following the incident, parents at the school delivered a 10-page letter to the Cherry Creek School District, demanding an independent review of how the situation was handled.

As a result, the school's principal, Amanda Replogle, was removed from her position. She admitted that it was a mistake not to activate the "lockdown" protocol after the incident. "It was a clear failure. At the time, we didn't have all the information we now know," Replogle wrote in a letter to the district.

Since then, the school has implemented safety reforms, such as:

• Increased presence of guards around the school perimeter.
• Indoor recreation options for added protection.
• Reinforced psychological support for students.

Although the charges were dropped, that doesn't mean the defendant will be left unsupervised. In these types of cases , the law allows people declared incompetent to be sent to supervised psychiatric treatment facilities . However, it hasn't been publicly confirmed whether that will be the route for Galligan.

The news has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with thousands of users expressing their fear, frustration, and anger at what they consider a display of impunity disguised as legality.