Teen Dressed As Clown Arrested In IL Homicide Investigation: Police

EAST ST. LOUIS, IL — A 15-year-old captured on video dressed as a clown has been taken into custody in connection with a downstate homicide investigation, according to authorities.

East St. Louis police responded around 10 p.m. Monday to 76th and State streets for a report of a body in the road, authorities said. The victim was identified as John Wesley Allen Sr., 78, First Alert 4 reported, adding he died of multiple stab wounds.

State police responded to the scene, and a suspect was quickly identified and later located at a home and taken into custody, authorities announced Tuesday afternoon, noting there was no threat to the public.

“Video footage of the suspect dressed in a clown costume has been circulating and ISP is currently working to collect all relevant video,” state police said in a social media post.

In the video — uploaded Ring footage that has been shared more than 500 times on Facebook — a person wearing a full face mask covering everything but the eyes and a red and black clown costume approaches the camera and whispers, “I’m looking for you.” The video is timestamped shortly after 9 p.m. Monday.

Lee Palmer told First Alert 4 that the person appeared on his family’s front porch when his mother was home alone and that the person lingered on their property for several minutes, going behind the house.

“I couldn’t believe it. He was dressed in the clown outfit,” Palmer told the outlet. “That was kind of spooky for her.”

Anyone with information or video surveillance of the teen is encouraged to contact state police at 618-806-7611 or isp.zone6commander@illinois.gov.