Crime
Teen Wearing Clown Costume Attacks Man, Sparks Fear in Community: ‘Why Come to This House?’
A 15-year-old has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a man to death while wearing a clown costume.
A man, later identified as John Wesley Allen Sr., 78, was found dead of multiple stab wounds near a bus stop in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Monday, August 3.
Footage from a Ring camera posted that night on Facebook by East St. Louis resident Lora Palmer, shows someone dressed in a clown suit slowly walking up to the door before whispering, “I’m looking for you,” while looking into the camera.
Lora’s relative Lee Palmer then told local outlet First Alert 4 that his mother was home alone when the person showed up, lingered for a few minutes, and went behind the house.
“I couldn’t believe it. He was dressed in the clown outfit. That was kind of spooky for her,” Lee said, adding that his first fear was that the person had a weapon. “He’s going to kill everybody in the house. Why out of all the houses, why come to this house?”
On August 4, Illinois State Police announced on Facebook that they had taken a teen into custody in connection with the homicide investigation, and asked anyone with information or video of the subject to call authorities.
First Alert 4 reported that the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a petition August 5 asking the court to charge the 15-year-old suspect as an adult.
