An unknown person dressed as a clown and holding a knife first frightened residents of the American city of East St. Louis (Illinois) by looking into the windows of their houses and video intercoms, and then, according to police, killed a pensioner at a bus stop without any motive. The probable “killer clown” was arrested – he turned out to be a local 15-year-old teenager, law enforcement officials said.
Late in the evening of August 3, police responded to a call about a dead person being found on the roadway. Killed was 78-year-old John Allen, originally from Missouri. The man worked for a bus company in Illinois for a long time and after retirement lived in a nursing home in St. Louis. He went by bus to visit his elderly sister.
State Police agents arrived at the scene and identified the likely killer, which allowed them to arrest the teenager at his home. Information about him is not publicly disclosed, as is usually the case in cases involving teenagers.
Police believe that the minor in the clown costume did not know Allen and chose the victim at random, NBC News notes. Charges have been brought under a serious charge of murder in the first degree, but it is still unknown whether the “killer clown” will be tried in an adult court. The relatives of the murdered man called for just such a trial.
A recording from a doorbell camera appeared in the media and social networks, where a man in a clown costume was recorded.
“I’m looking for you,” whispers a young man in glasses, whose face is hidden by a mask, looking into the camera.
In comments to the local KSDK channel, eyewitnesses noted that they also saw a clown with a knife looking into the windows of houses in the area.
A teen in a clown costume was arrested for murder after authorities found a body in a roadway.
Neighbors say the suspect was seen looking into windows while carrying a large knife.
MORE: https://t.co/zLaigasZtb pic.twitter.com/twwfXfV4JF
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) August 5, 2026
John Allen's family said they hope people remember him not for the violence that ended his life, but for the love, faith and family he devoted to it. https://t.co/8Zb835AztQ
— KREM 2 NEWS (@KREM2) August 7, 2026
Earlier, RTVI talked about the filing of charges against an Indiana resident. Authorities say she killed her father and cut out his heart.
