World’s dumbest dad sparks panic by wearing an ISIS Halloween outfit and carrying a toy gun as he wandered through a packed shopping centre
The dad insists he was dressed as a nun bank robber inspired by a movie called 'The Town' starring Ben Affleck
A MAN who sparked panic at a crowded shopping centre in the US by wearing a Halloween outfit that resembled an ISIS gunman said he didn't mean to scare anyone.
Dad-of-two Hugo Mendoza wore a long black robe holding a duffle bag and a toy gun for the Monster Mash Bash event at Oak View Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday.
His outfit triggered fear with parents calling police who then rushed to the scene and determined there was no threat.
The dad said he was surprised to find a picture of his costume going viral insisting he was dressed as a nun bank robber inspired by a movie called "The Town" starring Ben Affleck.
Mendoza told : "It's a costume. I mean, if it was something bad, why would they sell it?'
"I was there to have a good time with my daughters and my girlfriend. I wasn't there to scare little kids or make people feel uncomfortable."
He said his toy gun was purchased at a local costume store and while it wasn't visible in the viral picture, it did have an orange tip.
But some parents say the dad went too far with one mum saying her family's night at the kids Halloween event was cut short when Mendoza's costume made her uncomfortable.
Desirae Anson, who posted the viral picture in a group on Facebook said: "It was a packed place, there were kids everywhere. Anything really could have happened.
"So, it's better to be safe than sorry in that kind of situation.'
Anson and many online users called his outfit offensive and insensitive in light of recent shootings.
"It's just not the time or the place," Anson said. "Not with everything that's been going on. Not with a kids event."
A spokesperson for the company that owns Oak View Mall said it takes these concerns very seriously and the costume in the viral photo is a violation of GGP's code of conduct.
In a statement, the shopping centre said: "Oak View Mall does not allow any form of mask, prop or costume deemed inappropriate or offensive."
On their website, the code of conduct states any activity that threatens the safety of guests, tenants and/or employees or anything that disrupts the pleasant, family-oriented shopping environment is not allowed.