Background: The intersection of 76th and State streets in East St. Louis, Illinois (Google Maps). Inset: The teenage suspect captured on camera as he approaches a home (Ring/Lora Palmer/KMOV/YouTube).
A teenager in Illinois is accused of fatally stabbing a 78-year-old man while wearing a clown costume and after uttering on camera, "I've been looking for you."
The Illinois State Police (ISP) announced that it took a 15-year-old into custody in a recent homicide, though the agency did not release a name.
The victim was identified by the St. Clair County Coroner's Office as John Wesley Allen Sr., St. Louis, Missouri CBS affiliate KMOV reported.
On Monday at about 10 p.m., officers with the East St. Louis Police Department were called to the intersection of 76th and State streets in East St. Louis, Illinois, state police said. The city is across the Mississippi River and border of Missouri, right next to St. Louis.
Police had received a report about "a body in the roadway." The victim apparently died from multiple stab wounds.
As special agents investigated, they said they "quickly identified" a teen suspect, later finding him at a home and taking him into custody.
"Video footage of the suspect dressed in a clown costume has been circulating and ISP is currently working to collect all relevant video," the state agency said on Tuesday. Indeed, Ring video was shared by the local outlet showing someone wearing an apparent clown getup sauntering up to a door.
The glasses-wearing suspect peered in and reportedly said, "I've been looking for you."
Lee Palmer told KMOV that the home on which the suspect stepped was his mother's and that she was home alone. The person apparently lingered for several minutes and even went behind the house.
"I couldn't believe that. He was dressed in the clown fit," Palmer said. "That was kind of spooky for her."
Looking at the Ring camera footage, Palmer said it looked like "he's gonna come and kill everybody in the house."
Police have not released details as to what they believe the motive for the killing was. It also remains unclear whether authorities will attempt to try the teen suspect as an adult.
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