Person In Clown Mask Sought After Fatal Stabbing In Pennsylvania

Authorities have received numerous reports of suspicious clown sightings in Pennsylvania and nearby New Jersey over the past few weeks. Those reports have generally been harmless, but one incident involving a person in a clown mask turned deadly earlier this week in one Pennsylvania town.

Police in Reading say a teen was stabbed Sunday night when a fight broke out after a person appeared wearing a clown mask, according to a report by the Reading Eagle. Circumstances surrounding the stabbing death are murky, however, police told the publication "someone was wearing a clown mask and a fight broke out. Anyone who knows anything about this, please contact the Reading police.”

The stabbing killed Christian Torres, 16.

The latest incident involving a person dressed up as a clown comes a week after state police said they were investigating a report of a suspicious clown sighting in Huntington County. The incident involved "unknown actor(s) dressed as a clown," state police said in the incident report. No threats were made, police said, and no description of the clown was provided.

Nonetheless, Pennsylvania State Police warned residents at that time "if you observe an individual dressed as a clown on your property or along county roadways you are encouraged to call State Police."

The incident in Huntington County was not the first. Last week, authorities in Schuylkill County said they were investigating a report of clowns harassing children near a playground.

“A clown started chasing us up here and turned around and went back to the woods. So we thought it was gone, turned around, broke a stick and threw it at us and started calling us, cursing at us, it was scary,” a girl identified only as Brianne told WNEP. “Yes, a clown did this.”

In Cambria County earlier this month, a "creepy clown in a teal outfit" was reportedly peeking in someone’s window, state police in Ebensburg said, according to a report by The Tribune-Democrat.

The Pennsylvania incidents are among a broader rash of odd clown sightings nationwide.

In nearby New Jersey, four recent clown sightings have raised eyebrows in Phillipsburg, including clowns coming out of the woods and chasing a child; another "jester" running after a child; and a truck seen driving with multiple clowns hanging out the window.

Reports of clowns trying to lure children into the woods were recently under investigation in Greenville, South Carolina. Other sightings have been reported in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and Maryland. However, authorities believe many of these reports are unsubstantiated, the Washington Post says.

»Photo via NJ State Police