Illinois State Police say a 15-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder after 78-year-old John W. Allen was fatally stabbed while waiting for a bus in East St. Louis. Witnesses reported the attacker wore a clown costume and had been acting strangely in the neighborhood beforehand. Investigators quickly located and arrested the juvenile at a nearby residence. The case remains under investigation.
15-Year-Old in Clown Costume Charged With Fatal Stabbing at East St. Louis Bus Stop
Authorities in Illinois have charged a 15-year-old boy with the random knife slaying of a man waiting for a bus while dressed in a clown costume. File Photo by Justin Lane/EPA-EFE
A 15-year-old boy has been formally charged with first-degree murder after authorities say he randomly stabbed 78-year-old John W. Allen to death while Allen waited for a bus in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Investigation and Arrest
Illinois State Police said special investigators quickly identified and located the juvenile at a nearby residence and took him into custody. Police and investigators have described the attack as unprovoked and have not released a motive.
Witness Accounts and Video Evidence
Responding East St. Louis officers found Allen lying in the street Monday night. Witnesses told police the assailant was wearing what they described as a clown costume. Neighbors reported seeing a teenager going door to door, peering into windows and twirling a knife in the area before the killing.
One neighbor shared doorbell camera footage with local media that shows the suspect looking into the lens and saying, "I have a gift for you," authorities and outlets reported.
Family Reaction
Allen's family said he often made unannounced visits to his older sister in East St. Louis. "We were always concerned about him coming over without calling, but he just enjoyed being with his sister," his niece Tania Stanford told NBC News.
Authorities have charged the teenager as a juvenile with first-degree murder. The case remains under investigation and additional details, including any court proceedings or charges beyond first-degree murder, have not yet been released.
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