Illinois Teen in Clown Costume Charged in Fatal Stabbing of 78-Year-Old Man

A 15-year-old was arrested in connection with the Aug. 3 killing of John W. Allen, 78, of Jennings, Missouri, officials said.

Audrey Simons

Published: 8/7/2026, 2:40:15 PM EDT

Illinois Teen in Clown Costume Charged in Fatal Stabbing of 78-Year-Old Man — Police crime scene tape in a file photo. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

A teenager seen on doorbell camera footage wearing a clown costume has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of an elderly man in Illinois earlier this week, authorities said.

The 15-year-old boy, whose identity has not been released, was arrested after investigators identified him as a suspect in the Aug. 3 killing of John Allen, 78, of Jennings, Missouri.

Allen had been waiting at a bus stop in the area of 76th Street and State Street in East St. Louis when he was stabbed in a "random attack by a suspect wearing a clown outfit," the Illinois State Police said in a press release Thursday.

Officers with the East St. Louis Police Department discovered the victim shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday while responding to a report of a body in the roadway.

The teenager, who is a resident of East St. Louis, was later located at an undisclosed residence and taken into custody by Illinois State Police special agents, officials said, assuring the public that there was no ongoing threat at this time.

Residents in the area told KSDK-TV that they had seen the teen walking door to door in the neighborhood and looking into windows.

"He was twirling a knife, and it was a pretty big knife … the light gleamed off of it," one neighbor, Corrine Spry, told the outlet.

The teen was captured on Ring footage less than an hour before the killing. In the video, the boy can be seen walking up steps to a home before leaning down and looking straight at the camera. "I have a gift for you," he says before letting out a laugh.

The teen appeared in court Thursday for an initial hearing. A spokesperson for the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office said the boy will remain in police custody until at least his next court date. Prosecutors have asked for the case to be transferred out of juvenile court so that the 15-year-old can be tried as an adult.

"The charge is not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," officials said.

Authorities said they are actively working to collect camera footage related to the fatal stabbing. Anyone with information or surveillance video of the suspect has been asked to contact the Illinois State Police directly by calling (618) 806-7611 or emailing [email protected]

The Associated Press contributed to this report.